wheedle
verb
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Wheedle Comes Up Often in Literature
Wheedle has been a part of the English lexicon since the mid-17th century, though no one is quite sure how it wheedled its way in. (It has been suggested that the term may have come from the Old English word wǽdlian, which meant "to beg," but this is far from certain.) Be careful not to confuse wheedle with the similar-sounding weasel. While both words are applied in situations in which someone is trying to persuade another person, weasel is especially apt in cases in which the persuader is being clever or dishonest in their efforts, while wheedle always specifically involves soft words and flattery.
Synonyms
Examples of wheedle in a Sentence
Alex Ritman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024
At a pricey June 3 gala at the Supreme Court, liberal documentary filmmaker Lauren Windsor took on a conservative persona to wheedle controversial comments out of the judge, who’s recently come under fire for flying flags associated with Trump supporters at his homes.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 10 June 2024
What Mobutu was immensely talented at, of course, was the skill that the Americans had taught him: wheedling bribes.
—Stephen R. Weissman, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2014
Just as Falstaff does with anyone within his character’s orbit, McKellen winningly winds the audience around his little finger, presenting a man now wheedling, now roaring, always to his own advantage.
—David Benedict, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near wheedle
Cite this Entry
“Wheedle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wheedle. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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