as in coaxing
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery
she can sweet-talk her besotted boyfriend into just about anything
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Recent Examples of sweet-talking
And then there’s no sweet-talking ABS.
—
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
That’s Frank sweet-talking Miss Terry into coming to West Virginia.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
Instead of sweet-talking your way out of a parking ticket, admit your mistake and pay the fine.
—Sarah Vanbuskirk, Parents, 10 Jan. 2026
Hanks takes a detour from his traditional nice guy roles to sleaze it up as the hard-drinking, sweet-talking Wilson, and that alone is worth a watch.
—Lia Beck, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
Forget the old myths about dressing up or sweet-talking your way to the front.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
When you're isolated, that sweet-talking stranger starts looking pretty appealing.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Ukraine and its European allies are worried Putin may succeed in sweet-talking Trump into signing up for its one-sided vision for ending the war, leaving Kyiv out in the cold.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
That’s Frank sweet-talking Miss Terry into coming to West Virginia.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
Instead of sweet-talking your way out of a parking ticket, admit your mistake and pay the fine.
—Sarah Vanbuskirk, Parents, 10 Jan. 2026
Hanks takes a detour from his traditional nice guy roles to sleaze it up as the hard-drinking, sweet-talking Wilson, and that alone is worth a watch.
—Lia Beck, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
Forget the old myths about dressing up or sweet-talking your way to the front.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
When you're isolated, that sweet-talking stranger starts looking pretty appealing.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Ukraine and its European allies are worried Putin may succeed in sweet-talking Trump into signing up for its one-sided vision for ending the war, leaving Kyiv out in the cold.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweet-talking
coaxing
Verb
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Many of us don't have the time—or the skill—to work at coaxing flowers out of the garden.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Emery had been incessant in wanting shorter, faster balls from his deeper players, with Villa’s best opportunity of the afternoon stemming from brave passing in combination in the first half, coaxing Fulham onto them before John McGinn whipped a ball into the space behind.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sweet-talking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweet-talking. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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