wheedle

American  

[hweed-l, weed-l] / ˈʰwid l, ˈwid l /

verb (used with object)

wheedled, wheedling

1. to endeavor to influence (a person) by smooth, flattering, or beguiling words or acts.

   We wheedled him incessantly, but he would not consent.

   Synonyms:

   coax, cajole, flatter

2. to persuade (a person) by such words or acts.

   She wheedled him into going with her.

3. to obtain (something) by artful persuasions.

   I wheedled a new car out of my father.

   Synonyms:

   inveigle, beguile

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verb (used without object)

wheedled, wheedling

1. to use beguiling or artful persuasions.

   I always wheedle if I really need something.

wheedle British  

/ ˈwiːdəl /

verb

1. to persuade or try to persuade (someone) by coaxing words, flattery, etc

2. (tr) to obtain by coaxing and flattery

   she wheedled some money out of her father

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Other Word Forms

• unwheedled adjective
• wheedler noun
• wheedling adjective
• wheedlingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of wheedle

First recorded in 1655–65; origin uncertain

Explanation

To wheedle is to sweet talk, or flatter someone in the hopes of getting something in return. You might try to wheedle a meter maid into not giving you a parking ticket. Good luck with that. If you want your parents to do something for you that they don’t want to do, you may have to wheedle them with breakfast in bed and a shower of compliments in order to get what you want. To wheedle someone is to “charm” that person, though it’s a little more on the “suck up to” side than it is charming. The teacher’s pet might try to wheedle her way into a better grade.

Example Sentences

A mosquito spots the eminent man and zooms over to wheedle in his ear, but Bashō remains immobile.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

The arsonists wheedle their way into his house with a combination of servile pleading, subtle bullying and appeals to Biedermann’s moral vanity.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2022

And by clicking on that link, you’ll either download malware onto your device or be taken to a site that tries to wheedle sensitive personal information out of you.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2022

The abiding mystery is why Dale Carnegie didn’t wheedle himself a higher spot than No. 8.

From Washington Post • Jan. 11, 2020

When the agent continued to wheedle her, Mama hung up on her.

From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser

Related Words

• cajole
• finagle