cajolement
Coaxing with flattery
Cajolement is the act of coaxing or persuading someone through flattery, gentle urging, or persistent pleading.
It suggests a softer approach than demanding—wearing down resistance through charm rather than force: After much cajolement, she agreed to sing at the party.
The word carries a slightly manipulative undertone, implying the target needed convincing they wouldn't have given freely.
Persuading through gentle persistence
- wheedlingPersuading through flattery
- sweet-talkingPersuading through flattery
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- blandishmentFlattering words to persuade
entreaty · urging · inducement · convincing · beguiling · charming · winning over · soft-soaping
Underhanded control of others
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
- craftinessShrewd, devious cleverness
insincerity · duplicity · scheming · wiles · trickery · honeyed words · ulterior motive · disingenuous
Soft murmuring sounds
- endearmentsAffectionate words or phrases
- pet namesAffectionate names for loved ones
- sweet nothingsAffectionate but meaningless utterances
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
doting · fondness · pampering · indulgence · spoiling · babying · fawning · adoration
coaxing
Persuading through gentle persistence
- wheedlingPersuading through flattery
- sweet-talkingPersuading through flattery
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
blandishment · entreaty · urging · inducement · convincing · beguiling · charming · winning over · soft-soaping · smooth-talking
manipulation
Underhanded control of others
craftiness · insincerity · duplicity · scheming · wiles · trickery · honeyed words · ulterior motive · disingenuous · sycophancy
cooing
Soft murmuring sounds
- endearmentsAffectionate words or phrases
- pet namesAffectionate names for loved ones
- sweet nothingsAffectionate but meaningless utterances
tenderness · doting · fondness · pampering · indulgence · spoiling · babying · fawning · adoration · soft words