wheedle
/ˈwiː.dəl/
Group 27Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To employ endearments or flattery to persuade someone to do something GRE
Example in Context
The lobbyist wheedled concessions from reluctant legislators by appealing to their desire for favorable press coverage before the election.
Synonyms
sweet-talkcoaxcajole
Etymology
From Scottish, meaning to persuade through flattery or charm.
- wheedler (Scottish) — to entice
Memory Aid
🌼Sounds like “weedle”
If you WHEEDLE someone with sweet talk, it’s like offering them sweet weed — they can’t resist!
Visual Association
🌈A charming person surrounded by flowers, sweet-talking a group of friends into doing their chores.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “wheedle” mean on the GRE?
wheedle (verb) means “To employ endearments or flattery to persuade someone to do something”. The lobbyist wheedled concessions from reluctant legislators by appealing to their desire for favorable press coverage before the election.
How to remember “wheedle” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “wheedle” sounds like “weedle”. If you WHEEDLE someone with sweet talk, it’s like offering them sweet weed — they can’t resist!
What are synonyms for “wheedle”?
Common synonyms: sweet-talk, coax, cajole.