wheedle Hear it!

wheedle Definition

whee·dle (hwēd′'l, wēd′-)

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·dled, -·dling

  1. to influence or persuade (a person) by flattery, soothing words, coaxing, etc.
  2. to get (something) by coaxing or flattery

Etymology: 17th-c. cant < ? Ger wedeln, to wag the tail, fan, hence to flatter < wedel, a fan, tail

wheedle Related Forms
whee′·dler noun whee′·dlingly adverb
wheedle Synonyms

wheedle

v.

coax, flatter, cajole; see beg 1, coax, urge 2. See syn. study at coax.

wheedle Usage Examples

Object

  • money: However, as the benefits have increased, card firms have also become cleverer at wheedling money out of customers.
  • round: We arrived in St. Keverne just after midnight and managed to wheedle a round of drinks out of the landlord before he called time.