Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense cajoles, present participle cajoling, past tense, past participle cajoled
verb
If you cajole someone into doing something, you get them to do it after persuading them for some time.
It was he who had cajoled Garland into doing the film. [VERB noun + into]
He cajoled Mr Dobson to stand for mayor. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
Synonyms: persuade, tempt, lure, flatter More Synonyms of cajole
cajole in British English
(kəˈdʒəʊl)
verb
to persuade (someone) by flattery or pleasing talk to do what one wants; wheedle; coax
Derived forms
cajolement (caˈjolement)
noun
cajoler (caˈjoler)
noun
cajolery (caˈjolery)
noun
cajolingly (caˈjolingly)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from French cajoler to coax, of uncertain origin
cajole in American English
(kəˈdʒoʊl)
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: caˈjoled or caˈjoling
to coax with flattery and insincere talk; wheedle
SIMILAR WORDS: coax
Derived forms
cajolery (caˈjolery)
noun or caˈjolement
cajoler (caˈjoler)
noun
cajolingly (caˈjolingly)
adverb
Word origin
Fr cajoler, orig. to chatter like a jay in a cage; ? blend of OFr cage (see cage) + jaole, jail
Examples of 'cajole' in a sentence
cajole
King and his people had to cajole and persuade.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
And she allowed herself to be persuaded by cajoling flattery to do things no one elsecould have induced her to do.
Christopher Hibbert DISRAELI: A Personal History (2004)
She has cajoled, encouraged and nagged but now her reign of terror is nearly over.
The Sun (2007)
His teaching style was to gently cajole, to encourage when it all came right.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But to some extent the role of central government is to encourage and cajole the national highways agencies and local councils to act to improve road safety.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Their manager cajoled them, encouraged them, instructed them.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In rehearsal he growled and grunted, cajoled and coaxed, insisted and inspired.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And more importantly, how can we encourage, cajole or force the multinationals topay their fair dues?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
cajole
British English: cajole VERB
If you cajole someone into doing something, you get them to do it after persuading them for some time.
He cajoled her into doing the film.
American English: cajole
Brazilian Portuguese: adular
Chinese: 说服
European Spanish: engatusar
French: amener en cajolantN
German: beschwatzen
Italian: persuadere con lusinghe
Japanese: 丸め込む
Korean: 구슬리다
European Portuguese: adular
Latin American Spanish: engatusar
(verb)
Definition
to persuade by flattery
It was he who cajoled the actor into making the film.
Synonyms
persuade
My husband persuaded me to come.
tempt
Don't let credit tempt you to buy something you can't afford.
lure
They did not realise that they were being lured into a trap.
flatter
I knew he was just flattering me.
manoeuvre
seduce
The view of the lake and plunging cliffs seduces visitors.
entice
Retailers will try almost anything to entice shoppers through their doors.
coax
After lunch she coaxed him into talking about himself.
beguile
wheedle
They managed to wheedle some more money out of me.
sweet-talk (informal)
He even tried to sweet-talk the policewoman who arrested him.
inveigle
Additional synonyms
in the sense of coax
Definition
to persuade (someone) gently
After lunch she coaxed him into talking about himself.
Synonyms
persuade,
cajole,
talk into,
wheedle,
sweet-talk (informal),
prevail upon,
inveigle,
soft-soap (informal),
twist (someone's) arm,
flatter,
entice,
beguile,
allure
in the sense of entice
Definition
to attract (someone) away from one place or activity to another
Retailers will try almost anything to entice shoppers through their doors.
Synonyms
lure,
attract,
invite,
persuade,
draw,
tempt,
induce,
seduce,
lead on,
coax,
beguile,
allure,
cajole,
decoy,
wheedle,
prevail on,
inveigle,
dangle a carrot in front of
in the sense of flatter
Definition
to praise insincerely, esp. in order to win favour