Finesentence

Cajole Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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cajole

ca-jole

🇺🇸 /kəˈdʒoʊɫ/ · 🇬🇧 /kɐdʒˈəʊl/

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

influence

Persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.

Synonyms

coax, manipulate, persuade, sweet-talk.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
cajole

This word implies effort to gently persuade someone to do something they might not want to do, often involving flattery or playful teasing.

  • She managed to cajole him into agreeing to the plan.
  • He cajoled his little sister into sharing her candy.
persuade

This word is neutral and means convincing someone through reason or argument. It doesn't carry the negative connotations of 'manipulate.'

  • He persuaded his friend to join him on the trip.
  • She successfully persuaded the committee to approve the proposal.
coax

This word is similar to 'cajole,' but it often suggests a softer, more persistent form of persuasion. It's usually gentle and sincere.

  • She managed to coax the cat down from the tree.
  • He coaxed her to take the medicine, promising it would make her feel better.
sweet-talk

This word is informal and suggests using charming or flattering language to persuade someone, often for personal benefit.

  • He tried to sweet-talk his way out of trouble.
  • She sweet-talked the receptionist into getting an earlier appointment.
manipulate

This word carries a negative connotation and suggests using clever or unfair methods to influence someone for personal gain.

  • He tried to manipulate his colleagues into doing his work for him.
  • She felt manipulated by the salesman's high-pressure tactics.

Examples of usage

  • He hoped to cajole her into selling the house
  • She cajoled him into doing the dishes
  • The children cajoled their mother into buying them ice cream

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “cajole”

Cajole is a 2-syllable verb (ca-jole). It is pronounced /kəˈdʒoʊɫ/ in American English and /kɐdʒˈəʊl/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 1 meaning, 4 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #30,243 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'cajole'

The word 'cajole' originated in the 17th century from the French word 'cagoler', which means 'to chatter like a jay'. Over time, the meaning of 'cajole' evolved to convey the idea of persuading or coaxing through flattery or insincere talk. The word has since become a popular term to describe the act of influencing someone through gentle persuasion or sweet-talk.


Rhymes

Cajole rhymes with ecole, espanol, kohl, self-control, skoal, thole, control and whole.

See all rhymes →

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,243 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.