Definition

1. Verb:
   • To persuade someone to do something through deception, flattery, or gentle but persistent coaxing. It implies using clever or artful means to gain an advantage or to lead someone into an action they might not otherwise take.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • He managed to inveigle his way into the exclusive party. (He used clever persuasion to gain entry to the party.)
  • She inveigled the secret from her colleague. (She artfully coaxed the secret out of her colleague.)
  • They inveigled him into investing in the dubious scheme. (They used flattery and deception to persuade him to invest.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "inveigle someone into something/into doing something": This is the most common construction, describing the act of manipulating someone into a specific situation or action.
  • The con artist inveigled the elderly couple into signing over their property.
• "inveigle something out of/from someone": This construction focuses on using persuasion to obtain an object or piece of information from someone.
  • The reporter inveigled a statement out of the reluctant celebrity.

Variants and Related Words

• Inveiglement (noun): The act or process of inveigling.
  • The contract was obtained by inveiglement.
• Inveigler (noun): A person who inveigles.

Synonyms

• Coax: To persuade gently and patiently.
• Cajole: To persuade with flattery or gentle pleading.
• Wheedle: To use endearments or flattery to persuade someone to do something or give something.
• Entice: To attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage.

Antonyms

• Discourage: To persuade someone against an action.
• Deter: To prevent or discourage someone from acting.
• Dissuade: To persuade someone not to take a particular course of action.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• While "inveigle" itself is not commonly used in fixed idioms, its meaning is central to phrases describing deceptive persuasion.
  • To sweet-talk someone into something: Similar to inveigling, using charming speech to persuade.
  • To con someone out of something: To deceive someone in order to obtain something, often more overtly fraudulent than inveigling.

Verb

1. influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
   • He palavered her into going along