as in to coax
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery
she can sweet-talk her besotted boyfriend into just about anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in butter
excessive praise
enough of this sweet talk—just give me your honest opinion of my performance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sweet-talk
Jeffrey Collins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2024
Olsen sweet-talks Ellen into getting a little closer before doing the same open-mouth silent scream that Carmen did before passing Harbinger into Arlo.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024
John Benson, cleveland, 12 Sep. 2023
Cuban boleros, street-corner sweet talk, Mexican songs, Frank Sinatra ballads, and Frankie Laine melodramas . . .
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for sweet-talk
Verb
Their state leaders can both sweet-talk Democrats into switching parties and pull out numbers showing one good Republican opponent could end a Democrat’s decades of public service.
—Jeffrey Collins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2024
Olsen sweet-talks Ellen into getting a little closer before doing the same open-mouth silent scream that Carmen did before passing Harbinger into Arlo.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024
Noun
During the ride to the police station, the driver was trying to sweet talk the officer into not arresting him and instead letting his wife pick him up.
—John Benson, cleveland, 12 Sep. 2023
Cuban boleros, street-corner sweet talk, Mexican songs, Frank Sinatra ballads, and Frankie Laine melodramas . . .
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for sweet-talk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweet-talk
Verb
-
That means there are, at last, some bears and some cash, that can be coaxed back in with a cessation of presidential economic intervention.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2025
-
According to a post from Zoraida, Violeta spent 45 minutes coaxing the scared dog into her car.—
Rhiannon Saegert,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Key Ingredients for Sticky Buns Our recipe for sticky buns is made with an enriched dough, one that includes eggs, butter, sugar, and milk, along with the yeast and flour.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Remove seed oils and substitute for coconut oil, organic butter, or organic unscented tallow in 2026.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
People should wash any skin that comes into contact with the slurry with water and soft soap, before using a hand cream to avoid dryness and cracking.—
Lauren Penington,
The Denver Post,
2 Sep. 2024
-
Most of the questions aimed at the ironic American director of Raging Bull, Taxi Driver and Goodfellas were less softballs than soft soap, with reporters as interested in Scorsese’s favorite food — his mother’s lasagna recipe — as the movies in his peerless filmography.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
20 Feb. 2024
Noun
-
The film’s non-linear narrative has drawn praise from critics in Spain and abroad.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Neither general manager Alex Anthopoulos nor manager Brian Snitker would commit to that course Tuesday but both sang the praises of the player, the top freshman in the Atlanta camp.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Starmer brought flattery and a state visit invitation from King Charles III to soften the ask.—
Zeke Miller,
The Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Trump must be laughing about Newsom’s obviously insincere flattery and being able to make the governor jump through his hoops.—
Dan Walters,
The Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Someone is then shot with a harpoon, only to have their guts pulled like taffy from the wound.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
20 Feb. 2025
-
Boucher was on the hunt for Abba-Zaba, a chewy taffy bar with a real peanut butter center.—
Jessica Ma,
Sacramento Bee,
20 July 2024
Noun
-
Song’s Past Lives, also released by A24 and starring Greta Lee and Teo Yoo, debuted to critical acclaim in 2023, getting two Oscar nods including best picture.—
Lily Ford,
The Hollywood Reporter,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Since then, he’s only gone on to greater acclaim, even if his movies have grown far less interesting.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sweet-talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweet-talk. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share