cajole
Americanverb (used with or without object)
-
cajoles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cajoled,
past participle, past
-
cajoling
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
cajolesimple
-
cajolessimple
-
have cajoledperfect
-
has cajoledperfect
-
am cajolingprogressive
-
are cajolingprogressive
-
is cajolingprogressive
-
have been cajolingperfect progressive
-
has been cajolingperfect progressive
Past
-
cajoledsimple
-
had cajoledperfect
-
was cajolingprogressive
-
were cajolingprogressive
-
had been cajolingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of cajole
1635–45; < French cajoler to cajole or chatter like a jaybird, apparently derivative of *cajole birdcage (< Late Latin caveola < Latin cave ( a ) cage + -ola -ole 1 ( def. ) ) + -er infinitive suffix
Explanation
To cajole someone is to persuade them by using insincere compliments or promises. If you say "Please, pretty-please, I'll be your best friend," when asking for a stick of gum, you are cajoling the gum holder. The origin of this word is probably a blend of two French words meaning "to chatter like a jaybird" and "to lure into a cage." When you cajole that guy into lending you some money, picture him as the bird going into the cage. In fact, the word cajole may be associated with another French word meaning "to put in jail."
Vocabulary lists containing cajole
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"Two of them I could pick up when I wanted them somewhere where they weren't. And Clive, I had to cajole along."
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
His goal is to talk up the VW agreement to cajole workers at Mercedes and other foreign plants into unionizing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
Belgium's outspoken prime minister Bart De Wever will be in the spotlight as his EU counterparts -- most of whom back the plan -- try to cajole him to accept.
From Barron's ● Dec. 18, 2025
My mother did her best to cajole me into going.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 27, 2025
Thousands of feet below, his friends stepped up their efforts to cajole him to start down.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
Running around town in his tennis-coach regalia of short shorts and knee-high socks, Richard cajoles, insists, argues and refuses to take no for an answer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2021
Still, he cajoles her into a session, and when she comes back from her hypnosis, he seems eerily pleased.
From New York Times ● Oct. 27, 2021
In the film, Zola, played by Paige, strikes up a friendship with a customer, Stefani, played by Keough, who cajoles her into joining her for a weekend of partying in Tampa, Florida.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2021
He conferences, cajoles and criticizes with the energy of an aerobics instructor and the wisdom of a warlord.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 30, 2020
This nearly cajoles me into thinking I should also know what Marv needs with the money.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
They coaxed, cajoled, begged and beseeched for support to bring the tournament to North America.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026
When that failed, it cajoled and persuaded many of its allies to join in a coalition of the willing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026
No one should be cajoled into paying for a property that they never use and no longer wish to own.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 5, 2026
"Maybe it's the failure of Oslo that gave rise to the rather unconventional approach that Trump has taken, where he has short-circuited any sort of process and simply pressured and cajoled," Yacoubian said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025
On this occasion he buttonholed me to talk about the guided Everest expedition he was planning: I should come along, he cajoled, and write an article about the climb for Outside.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
“No amount of cajoling or liens will scare” the other owners who don’t pay, the former U.S.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
Seymour P. Lachman and Robert Polner give Carey his due for cajoling lawmakers, both at the state and the federal levels, into action.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
A Fed chair can’t change the world on his own; cajoling other Fed officials to back his views requires credibility, among other factors.
From Barron's ● Dec. 11, 2025
Do they need cajoling or taking down a peg or two?
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2025
Toward the end of the wake, Kendra overheard Mom cajoling Grandpa Sorenson to watch the kids.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
