What does cajoled mean?
"Cajoled" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "cajole," meaning to persuade someone to do something through flattery, gentle pleading, or persistent coaxing rather than through force, threats, or honest reasoning. A person who has been cajoled has typically given in because someone wore down their resistance with compliments, sweet talk, or playful insistence — think of a child cajoled into eating vegetables, or an employee cajoled into working the weekend. The word carries a subtly disapproving or ironic connotation: it suggests the persuasion was somewhat manipulative, even if good-natured. In modern English it appears most naturally in the construction "cajoled into doing something." Borrowed into English from French in the seventeenth century, it remains a useful word for describing persuasion that relies on charm rather than authority, filling a niche between simple "persuading" and outright "manipulating."
verb (past participle of 'cajole')Past tense and past participle of "cajole": persuaded someone to do something through flattery, gentle pleading, or insincere coaxing rather than force or honest argument.
- To persuade someone to do something through persistent flattery, gentle teasing, or insincere praise.
- (Less commonly) To coax or soothe someone out of an unpleasant mood or state.
"She cajoled her brother into lending her the car by praising his driving skills."
"The salesman cajoled the reluctant couple into taking a test drive."
"He cajoled the crying toddler with promises of ice cream until she finally stopped sobbing."
English borrowed "cajole" straight from French, and even the French aren't sure where it originally came from — a word about smooth-talking that itself has a murky, slippery history.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cajoled
"Cajoled" comes from the verb "cajole," which English borrowed from French "cajoler" in the early seventeenth century. The ultimate origin of the French verb is genuinely uncertain: one widely repeated theory links it to a regional French term associated with cages or bird-catching (suggesting luring, as one lures a bird), but etymologists do not regard this as settled. What is certain is that the word entered English with its sense of persuading by flattering or coaxing intact, and has kept that meaning ever since.
Related word forms
How cajoled is actually used
"Cajoled" usually implies the persuader used charm, flattery, or gentle deception rather than logic or force, giving it a slightly disapproving or wry connotation. It's common in both formal writing and everyday speech, often appearing in the fixed pattern "cajoled into doing something." It can also be used reflexively in literary English (e.g., "she cajoled herself into feeling calm"), though this is less frequent.
Easily confused with cajoled
"Coax" means to persuade gently and patiently, often sincerely, whereas "cajole" typically carries a stronger hint of flattery or manipulation.