Cajole — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /kə-ˈjōl/ ca·jole

Meaning & Definition of Cajole

Cajole (verb)

  1. to persuade with flattery or gentle urging especially in the face of reluctance, coax
  2. to obtain from someone by gentle persuasion
  3. to deceive with soothing words or false promises

Cajole (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery

    "cajoled her into doing his laundry for him"

    similar: blandish, blarney, coax, palaver, soft-soap, sweet-talk, wheedle
    related: adulate, flatter, overpraise, butter up, charm, massage, woo, beg, beseech, importune, urge, beguile, cozen, finagle, juggle, wangle, wile, entice, lure, seduce, tempt
    near: bug, harass, nag, pester, tease, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, cow, intimidate, coerce, compel, constrain, demand, force, make, oblige, require

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cajole

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cajole:

blandish, blarney, coax, palaver, soft-soap, sweet-talk, wheedle

Related Words for Cajole

adulate, flatter, overpraise, butter up, charm, massage, woo, beg, beseech, importune, urge, beguile, cozen, finagle, juggle, wangle, wile, entice, lure, seduce, tempt

Near Antonyms of Cajole

bug, harass, nag, pester, tease, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, cow, intimidate, coerce, compel, constrain, demand, force, make, oblige, require

Word Forms of Cajole

Inflections: cajoled, cajoling

Derived words: cajolement (noun), cajoler (noun), cajolery (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Cajole

borrowed from French cajoler "to give much attention to, make a fuss over, flatter, persuade with flattery," going back to Middle French cajoller "to flatter out of self-interest," perhaps the same verb as Middle French cageoller "to vocalize, sing (of a jay or other bird)," expressive formation of uncertain origin

First known use: 1630

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cajole

Frequently Asked Questions about Cajole

What does "Cajole" mean?

"Cajole" means to persuade with flattery or gentle urging especially in the face of reluctance, coax. As a verb, it is defined as: to persuade with flattery or gentle urging especially in the face of reluctance, coax.

What is another word for "Cajole"?

Other words for "Cajole" include blandish, blarney, coax, palaver, soft-soap, sweet-talk and wheedle. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cajole" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cajole"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cajole". Common alternatives include blandish, blarney, coax, palaver, soft-soap, sweet-talk and wheedle.

How do you use "Cajole" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cajole" in a sentence: "cajoled her into doing his laundry for him".

Is "Cajole" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cajole" is a verb.

Is "Cajole" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Cajole" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Cajole"?

"Cajole" is pronounced /kə-ˈjōl/ and divided into syllables as ca·jole.

What is the origin of the word "Cajole"?

"Cajole" comes from borrowed from French cajoler "to give much attention to, make a fuss over, flatter, persuade with flattery," going back to Middle French cajoller "to flatter out of self-interest," perhaps the same verb as Middle French cageoller "to vocalize, sing (of a jay or other bird)," expressive formation of uncertain origin. First known use: 1630.