Meaning & use
cajole
Last updated
UK/kəˈdʒəʊl/
US/kəˈdʒoʊl/
Meaning
verbtransitive
To persuade someone gently, using flattery, charm or repeated friendly requests.
Grammar: Takes an object, often with into plus -ing: cajole her into agreeing.
Patterns
- cajole someone into doing something
- cajole something out of someone
- cajole someone to do something
She cajoled her brother into helping with the move.
He cajoled a discount out of the shopkeeper.
The coach cajoled the tired players to keep running.
Word forms
| third person singular | cajoles |
|---|---|
| past tense | cajoled |
| past participle | cajoled |
| -ing form | cajoling |
Common combinations
- cajole someone into
- They cajoled him into singing.
- cajole something out of someone
- She cajoled the secret out of her friend.
- gently cajole
- He gently cajoled the child to eat.
- cajoling tone
- She used a cajoling tone.
- coax and cajole
- We had to coax and cajole him.
Synonyms and how they differ
- coax
- Closer to gentle, patient encouragement with less flattery.
- persuade
- A neutral word that does not suggest charm or flattery.
- wheedle
- Suggests sly flattery to get something, and sounds more negative.
- sweet-talk
- An informal word for flattering someone to get what you want.
Opposites
Word family
- cajolery noun
- persuasion by flattery
- cajoler noun
- a person who cajoles
Commonly confused: cajole or coerce?
cajole vs coerce
Coerce means to force by threat, whereas cajole uses charm.
Practice
Which sentence shows someone being cajoled?
Choose one answer.
Cajoling is persuasion by charm and flattery, as in the second sentence. Threats and orders are coercion.
Make it your own
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