wheedling

Thân thiện

She ignored his wheedling and refused to give him another cookie.

Definition

Noun: The act of persuading or attempting to persuade someone to do something or give you something by using flattery, coaxing, or gentle, persistent pleading. It often involves using a charming or ingratiating manner.

Usage

"Wheedling" is used to describe a specific, often manipulative, method of persuasion. It is typically a negative or disapproving term, suggesting the use of insincere praise or excessive coaxing to achieve a goal. It refers to the action or process itself.

Examples

• The child's constant wheedling for a new toy finally wore down his parents' resistance.
• She saw through his transparent wheedling and refused to lend him any more money.
• The salesperson's wheedling made the customer uncomfortable, so they left the store.

Advanced Usage

• As a verbal noun (gerund): While "wheedling" is primarily a standard noun, it originates from the verb "to wheedle." In sentences like "His wheedling was annoying," it functions as a noun. However, it can also appear in a gerundive construction: "He got his way by wheedling."
• In a descriptive context: It can be used attributively to modify another noun, describing the nature of an action.
  • He spoke in a wheedling tone. (Here, "wheedling" acts as an adjective describing the tone.)

Variants and Related Words

• Wheedle (verb): To employ flattery or coaxing in order to persuade someone.
  • He tried to wheedle a promise out of her.
• Wheedler (noun): A person who habitually wheedles.

Synonyms

• Coaxing
• Cajolery
• Flattery
• Ingratiation
• Blandishment

Antonyms

• Intimidation
• Bullying
• Demanding
• Commanding

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To wheedle something out of someone: A common phrasal construction using the verb form, meaning to obtain something from someone by wheedling.
  • She managed to wheedle the secret out of her brother.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the act of urging by means of teasing or flattery

Từ đồng nghĩa

• blandishment