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
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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
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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
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As the ball tracked toward the hole, play-by-play and color announcers Shane Bacon and Doug Smith coaxed it into the hole.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
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Two previous deals aimed at ending the strike failed to coax enough guards back to end the crisis.—
Michael Hill,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In a large, shallow Dutch oven or broiler-safe skillet, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2025
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Pour melted butter in the gap, then stuff it with the rhubarb.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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Lovato took the comments in stride and laughed throughout the video, quickly taking notice of the praise at the end of the clip.—
Jack Irvin,
People.com,
17 Mar. 2025
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His monologue sparked a deluge of praise, and memes.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and that seems to be what Ariana Grande thinks about Kelly Ripa's impersonation of her.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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Starmer at a meeting in Washington last week used a mixture of flattery and the invitation from the royal family for an unprecedented second state visit to try to win a commitment from Trump for a U.S. security guarantee to protect Ukraine if a deal to end the war with Russia can be reached.—
Andrew MacAskill and Kate Holton,
USA TODAY,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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Flagg already was considered the likely No. 1 pick even before the 6-foot-9 swingman backed up the acclaim accompanying his arrival on campus by emerging as a national player of the year front-runner his freshman season.—
Steve Megargee,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
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The show, which hit number one on Netflix after its release, has received widespread acclaim for its writing, directing, and performances—including from Cooper.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sweet-talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweet-talk. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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