wheedling 1 of 2

noun

Definition of wheedlingnext
as in coaxing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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wheedling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of wheedle
as in cajoling
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery wheedled him into doing their work for them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wheedling
  1. coaxing
  2. entreaty
  3. exhortation
  4. inducement
  5. blandishment
  6. suasion
Verb
  • What good is a data-sharing collaboration where no one (at least without coaxing) wants to share data?
    Dhiraj Bhat, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Tech companies are slowly but surely coaxing filmmakers into tinkering with their AI tools.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2024
Definition of coaxing
Noun
  • As a grandson who lived with him frantically packed a car, Nickerson refused all entreaties to evacuate.
    Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Esme forgoes a generic entreaty at the feet of her girlboss and instead makes a cunning personal plea for better judgment from her mentor.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024
Definition of entreaty
Noun
  • The speech doesn’t quite fit the categories of Oval Office address we are used to — not an announcement or a pep talk or an exhortation for action.
    James Poniewozik, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
  • But Turkish army units stand ready at the Syrian border, and Washington’s exhortations are unlikely to keep Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from giving them the green light.
    Gonul Tol, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2019
Definition of exhortation
Noun
  • Fraudulent misrepresentation and fraudulent inducement are also alleged in the complaint.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Dec. 2024
  • This time, the hot-stove sweepstakes come with a twist: Thanks to a recent court ruling, NIL deals can be used as recruiting inducements.
    Blake Toppmeyer, The Tennessean, 29 Mar. 2024
Definition of inducement
Noun
  • Impressed by the senator’s blandishments, the egoistic journalist argues military strategy and then faces a moment of conscience.
    Armond White, National Review, 17 May 2023
  • People want to hear blandishments about engagement and infrastructure.
    Rory Smith, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2023
Definition of blandishment
Noun
  • All presidents have used leverage, often combined with moral suasion, personal relationships, public appeals, and other efforts, to attain their objectives in international affairs.
    Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2020
  • Moral suasion can be even more powerful than policy.
    Arthur C. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2017
Definition of suasion
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near wheedling

wheedles

wheedling

wheel

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Cite this Entry

“Wheedling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wheedling. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wheedling

Nglish: Translation of wheedling for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of wheedling for Arabic Speakers

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