cajole
/kəˈdʒəʊl/
Group 27Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery GRE
Example in Context
The lobbyist cajoled undecided legislators with a combination of flattery and carefully targeted promises that appealed to their constituencies.
Synonyms
coaxpersuadesweet-talk
Etymology
Originally meant to chatter or coax, now implies flattering persuasion.
- cajoler (French) — to chatter
Memory Aid
🤡Sounds like “cajole like a fool”
Imagine a FOOL trying to CAJOLE a cat into taking a bath with silly jokes and tickles!
Visual Association
🐱A person comically trying to coax a stubborn cat with treats, while the cat looks thoroughly unimpressed.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “cajole” mean on the GRE?
cajole (verb) means “To persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery”. The lobbyist cajoled undecided legislators with a combination of flattery and carefully targeted promises that appealed to their constituencies.
How to remember “cajole” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “cajole” sounds like “cajole like a fool”. Imagine a FOOL trying to CAJOLE a cat into taking a bath with silly jokes and tickles!
What are synonyms for “cajole”?
Common synonyms: coax, persuade, sweet-talk.