wheedle

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: whee=dle

CIDE DICTIONARY

wheedle, v. t. [Cf. G. wedeln to wag with the tail, as a dog, wedel a fan, tail, brush, OHG. wadal; akin to G. wehen to blow, and E. wind, n.].

•  To entice by soft words; to cajole; to flatter; to coax.  [1913 Webster]

  "The unlucky art of wheedling fools."  [1913 Webster]

  "And wheedle a world that loves him not."  [1913 Webster]
•  To grain, or get away, by flattery.  [1913 Webster]

  "A deed of settlement of the best part of her estate, which I wheedled out of her."  [1913 Webster]

wheedle, v. i. 

 To flatter; to coax; to cajole.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

wheedle, v.tr.
1 coax by flattery or endearments.
2 (foll. by out) a get (a thing) out of a person by wheedling. b cheat (a person) out of a thing by wheedling.

Derivative

wheedler n. wheedling adj. wheedlingly adv.

Etymology

perh. f. G wedeln fawn, cringe f. Wedel tail

THESAURUS

wheedle

adulate, advocate, apply pressure, banter, beset, besiege, beslobber, beslubber, blandish, blarney, bug, buttonhole, cajole, call on, call upon, coax, compliment, con, conceit, dun, exert pressure, exhort, fawn upon, flatter, high-pressure, importune, insist, insist upon, jawbone, lobby, make fair weather, nag, nag at, oil the tongue, palaver, pester, plague, plead with, ply, praise, press, pressure, push, recommend, slobber over, soft-soap, sweet-talk, tease, urge, work on

ROGET THESAURUS

wheedle

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Endearment

VB caress, fondle, pet, dandle, pat, pat on the head, pat on the cheek, chuck under the chin, smile upon, coax, wheedle, cosset, coddle, cocker, cockle, make of, make much of, cherish, foster, kill with kindness, clasp, hug, cuddle, fold in one's arms, strain in one's arms, nestle, nuzzle, embrace, kiss, buss, smack, blow a kiss, salute, fold to the heart, press to the bosom, bill and coo, spoon, toy, dally, flirt, coquet, gallivant, galavant, philander, make love, pay one's court to, pay one's addresses to, pay one's attentions to, serenade, court, woo, set one's cap at, be sweet upon, look sweet upon, ogle, cast sheep's eyes upon, faire les yeux doux, fall in love with, win the affections, die for, propose, make an offer, have an offer, pop the question, plight one's troth, plight one's faith.

Flattery

VB flatter, praise to the skies, puff, wheedle, cajole, glaver, coax, fawn upon, faun upon, humor, gloze, soothe, pet, coquet, slaver, butter, jolly, bespatter, beslubber, beplaster, beslaver, lay it on thick, overpraise, earwig, cog, collogue, truckle to, pander to, pandar to, suck up to, kiss the ass of, pay court to, court, creep into the good graces of, curry favor with, hang on the sleeve of, fool to the top of one's bent, lick the dust, lay the flattering unction to one's soul, gild the pill, make things pleasant, overestimate, exaggerate.