Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense wheedles, present participle wheedling, past tense, past participle wheedled
verb
If you say that someone wheedles, you mean that they try to persuade someone to do or give them what they want, for example by saying nice things that they do not mean.
[disapproval]
Cross decided to beg and wheedle a bit. [VERB]
He managed to wheedle his way into the offices.
...an opportunity to wheedle more money out of Wilson. [V n + out of/from]
'Why don't you try to read on past page 21,' I wheedled and sat down again. [VERB with quote]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: coax, talk, court, draw More Synonyms of wheedle
wheedle in British English
(ˈwiːdəl)
verb
1.
to persuade or try to persuade (someone) by coaxing words, flattery, etc
2. (transitive)
to obtain by coaxing and flattery
she wheedled some money out of her father
Derived forms
wheedler (ˈwheedler)
noun
wheedling (ˈwheedling)
adjective
wheedlingly (ˈwheedlingly)
adverb
Word origin
C17: perhaps from German wedeln to wag one's tail, from Old High German wedil, wadil tail
wheedle in American English
(ˈhwidəl; ˈwidəl)
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈwheedled or ˈwheedling
1.
to influence or persuade (a person) by flattery, soothing words, coaxing, etc.
2.
to get (something) by coaxing or flattery
SIMILAR WORDS: coax
Derived forms
wheedler (ˈwheedler)
noun
wheedlingly (ˈwheedlingly)
adverb
Word origin
17th-c. cant < ? Ger wedeln, to wag the tail, fan, hence to flatter < wedel, a fan, tail
Examples of 'wheedle' in a sentence
wheedle
You don't understand...' `I do understand that you think you can wheedle us by making a lovely supper...' `No!
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A COUNTESS ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE MYSTERY (2002)
You're just a dishonest solicitor trying to wheedle your way into our family affairs.
Meek, M R D IN REMEMBRANCE OF ROSE (2002)
ever, there was an effort to raise funds for civil rights campaigns, Duane managed to wheedle a four-figure check from his mother.
Adair, Tom (Intro) THREE KINDS OF KISSING - SCOTTISH SHORT STORIES (2002)
One or both of them might try to wheedle out of it if she left them a loophole.
Jennifer Fallon HARSHINI (2002)
(verb)
Definition
to try to persuade (someone) by coaxing or flattery
They managed to wheedle some more money out of me.
Synonyms
coax
After lunch she coaxed him into talking about himself.
talk
court
draw
persuade
My husband persuaded me to come.
charm
I'm sure you'll be able to charm him into taking you.
worm
flatter
I knew he was just flattering me.
entice
Retailers will try almost anything to entice shoppers through their doors.
cajole
It was he who cajoled the actor into making the film.
inveigle
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cajole
Definition
to persuade by flattery
It was he who cajoled the actor into making the film.
Synonyms
persuade,
tempt,
lure,
flatter,
manoeuvre,
seduce,
entice,
coax,
beguile,
wheedle,
sweet-talk (informal),
inveigle
in the sense of charm
Definition
to influence or obtain by personal charm
I'm sure you'll be able to charm him into taking you.
Synonyms
persuade,
seduce,
coax,
beguile,
cajole,
sweet-talk (informal)
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
Nearby words of
wheedle
what makes someone tick
what's more
whatsit
wheedle
wheel
wheeze
whelp
Synonyms of 'wheedle'
wheedle
Explore 'wheedle' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flatter
Definition
to praise insincerely, esp. in order to win favour