smooth-talk
Persuade with flattery
To smooth-talk is to use charm, flattery, or persuasive language to manipulate someone: He smooth-talked his way past the bouncer.
The term implies insincerity—the speaker's words sound good but serve their own interests.
As a noun, smooth talk is such persuasive speech.
A smooth talker is someone skilled at it.
Persuade by gentle urging
- cajolePersuade through flattery
- wheedlePersuade through flattery
- convinceCause to believe
- swayRock back and forth
influence · manipulate · blandishment · entice · seduce · soft-soap · inveigle · beguile
Smoothly refined in manner
- charmingPleasantly attractive in manner
- charismaticCompellingly attractive to others
- debonairSophisticated and carefree
- winsomeSweetly charming
captivating · disarming · slick · urbane · sophisticated · polished · ingratiating · beguiling
Words expressing approval
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- sycophancyObsequious behavior toward authority
- ingratiationDeliberate favor-seeking behavior
schmooze · bootlicking · overpraise · soft-soap · flannel · blarney · snow-job · stroking
Frequency of sound
- spielPersuasive extended talk
- patterQuick rehearsed speech
- closingFinal stage of something
- deal-makingNegotiating agreements between parties
negotiation · hard-sell · soft-sell · upselling · cold-calling · networking · schmoozing · glad-handing
coax
Persuade by gentle urging
sway · influence · manipulate · blandishment · entice · seduce · soft-soap · inveigle · beguile · prevail
suave
Smoothly refined in manner
- charmingPleasantly attractive in manner
- charismaticCompellingly attractive to others
- debonairSophisticated and carefree
winsome · captivating · disarming · slick · urbane · sophisticated · polished · ingratiating · beguiling · magnetic
compliment
Words expressing approval
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- sycophancyObsequious behavior toward authority
ingratiation · schmooze · bootlicking · overpraise · soft-soap · flannel · blarney · snow-job · stroking · toadying
pitch
Frequency of sound
deal-making · negotiation · hard-sell · soft-sell · upselling · cold-calling · networking · schmoozing · glad-handing · prospecting
con
Argument against
swindle · bamboozle · hoodwink · dupe · flimflam · snow · mislead · deceive · manipulate · put-on
- flatteryflatter, praise, flattery, compliment, compliments
- persuasionpersuade, persuasion, persuasive, convince, convincing
smooth-talkstraight talk
Honest, direct communication
bluntness · tell it like it is · brutal honesty · speak plainly · lay it on the line
smooth-talkstrong-arm
Coerce through intimidation
bully · coerce · threaten · intimidate · browbeat
talk, smooth, smoothly, talking, talkative, smoothness, smoothing, smoothest, smoother