sweet-talk
Flattery for persuasion
Sweet-talk is flattering or coaxing speech meant to persuade someone.
To sweet-talk is to use charm, compliments, or smooth words to get what you want: He sweet-talked his way into the VIP section.
The term implies manipulation beneath the pleasantness—genuine praise isn't usually called sweet-talk.
Persuade by gentle urging
- cajolePersuade through flattery
- persuadeCause to believe
- convinceCause to believe
- wheedlePersuade through flattery
influence · sway · entice · prevail · negotiate · sell · pitch · woo
Expressions of admiration
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- blandishmentFlattering words to persuade
sycophancy · overpraise · apple-polishing · smooth-talking · gushing · effusive · obsequious · bootlicking
Control through clever influence
- misleadCause false belief
- deceiveCause false belief
- beguileCharm into deception
- hoodwinkTrick into false belief
dupe · con · trick · snow · bamboozle · hustle · fast-talk · insincere
Playful romantic attention
- coquetryPlayful amorous behavior
- allureAttractive, tempting quality
- enticementSomething that attracts
- come-onAttempt to attract someone
wooing · advances · proposition · romantic · amorous · suggestive · tempting · seductive
Pleasantly attractive in manner
- smooth-talkingCharmingly persuasive in speech
- suaveSmoothly refined in manner
- charismaticCompellingly attractive to others
- silver-tonguedPersuasively articulate speaker
winning · disarming · engaging · personable · affable · polished · urbane · witty
coax
Persuade by gentle urging
wheedle · influence · sway · entice · prevail · negotiate · sell · pitch · woo · court
compliments
Expressions of admiration
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
blandishment · sycophancy · overpraise · apple-polishing · smooth-talking · gushing · effusive · obsequious · bootlicking · smarmy
manipulate
Control through clever influence
hoodwink · dupe · con · trick · snow · bamboozle · hustle · fast-talk · insincere · disingenuous
flirtation
Playful romantic attention
- coquetryPlayful amorous behavior
- allureAttractive, tempting quality
- enticementSomething that attracts
come-on · wooing · advances · proposition · romantic · amorous · suggestive · tempting · seductive · beguiling
charming
Pleasantly attractive in manner
- smooth-talkingCharmingly persuasive in speech
- suaveSmoothly refined in manner
- charismaticCompellingly attractive to others
silver-tongued · winning · disarming · engaging · personable · affable · polished · urbane · witty · gracious
- flatteryflatter, praise, flattery, compliment, compliments
- persuasion tacticscharm, butter up, flattery, flatter, coax
- sycophancyfawning, toadying, groveling, kowtowing, brown-nosing
- sycophantssycophant, sycophants, toady, toadies, bootlicker
- schmoozingschmooze, schmoozing, hobnobbing, glad-handing, mingling
- persuasionpersuade, persuasion, persuasive, convince, convincing
sweet-talkinsult
Offensive remark or action
abuse · berate · trash-talk · bad-mouth · vilify
sweet-talkspeak plainly
level with · tell it like it is · lay it on the line · speak truth · cut to the chase