First Known Use: 1630
Dictionary
cajole
verb ca·jole \kə-ˈjōl\
: to persuade someone to do something or to give you something by making promises or saying nice things
ca·joledca·jol·ing
Full Definition of CAJOLE
transitive verb
1
a : to persuade with flattery or gentle urging especially in the face of reluctance : coax <had to cajole them into going> b : to obtain from someone by gentle persuasion <cajoled money from his parents>
2
: to deceive with soothing words or false promises
— ca·jole·ment \-ˈjōl-mənt\ noun
— ca·jol·er noun
— ca·jol·ery \-ˈjō-lə-rē\ noun
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Origin of CAJOLE
French cajoler
Synonym Discussion of CAJOLE
cajole, coax, soft-soap, blandish, wheedle mean to influence or persuade by pleasing words or actions. cajole suggests the deliberate use of flattery to persuade in the face of reluctance or reasonable objections <cajoled him into cheating on the final exam>. coax implies gentle and persistent words or actions employed to produce a desired effect <coaxed the cat out of the tree>. soft-soap refers to using smooth and somewhat insincere talk usually for personal gain <politicians soft-soaping eligible voters>. blandish implies a more open desire to win a person over by effusive praise and affectionate actions <legislators blandished with promises of support>. wheedle suggests more strongly than cajole the use of seductive appeal or artful words in persuading <hucksters wheedling her life's savings out of her>.
Rhymes with CAJOLE
airhole, armhole, atoll, bankroll, beadroll, bedroll, black hole, blackpoll, blowhole, borehole, bunghole, catchpole, charcoal, chuckhole, condole, console, control, creole, Creole, dipole, drumroll, dry hole, Dutch roll, egg roll, enroll, ensoul, extol, eyehole, field goal, fishbowl, flagpole, foxhole, funk hole, hard coal, half sole, heart-whole, hellhole, Huichol, inscroll, insole, in whole, keyhole, kneehole, knothole, leaf roll, logroll, loophole, manhole, maypole, midsole, Mongol, outsole, parole, patrol, payroll, peephole, pesthole, pinhole, pistole, pitchpole, porthole, posthole, pothole, redpoll, ridgepole, Sheol, shot hole, sinkhole, ski pole, slipsole, snap roll, sotol, sound hole, spring roll, tadpole, taphole, thumbhole, top-hole, touchhole, unroll, washbowl, weep hole, white hole, wormhole
CAJOLERY Defined for Kids
cajole
verb ca·jole \kə-ˈjōl\
ca·joledca·jol·ing
Definition of CAJOLE for Kids
: to coax or persuade especially by flattery or false promises <She cajoled me into accompanying her.>
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