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Beguile vs Cajole - What's the difference?

beguile | cajole |

As verbs the difference between beguile and cajole

is that beguile is to deceive or delude (using guile) while cajole is to persuade someone to do something which they are reluctant to do, especially by flattery or promises; to coax.

beguile

English

Alternative forms

*

Verb

(beguil)
  • To deceive or delude (using guile).
  • * , II, II, 102.
  • I know, sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguiled you, in a plain accent, was a plain knave.
  • To charm, delight or captivate.
  • * 1864 November 21, Abraham Lincoln (signed) or John Hay, letter to Mrs. Bixby in Boston
  • I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming.

    References

    * *

    cajole

    English

    Verb

  • (transitive, and, intransitive) To persuade someone to do something which they are reluctant to do, especially by flattery or promises; to coax.
  • * 1722 , , Moll Flanders , ch. 12:
  • Then he cajoled with his brother, and persuaded him what service he had done him.
  • * 1820 , , The Abbot , ch. 27:
  • If you are cajoled by the cunning arguments of a trumpeter of heresy, or the praises of a puritanic old woman, is not that womanish?
  • * 1894 , , Only An Irish Boy , ch. 19:
  • He had tried bullying, and without success. He would try cajoling and temptation.
  • * 1898 , , The Battle Of The Strong , ch. 37:
  • [W]ith eloquent arts he had cajoled a young girl into a secret marriage.
  • * 1917 , , King Coal , ch. 8:
  • Schulman, general manager of the "G. F. C.," had been sending out messengers to hunt for him, and finally had got him in his office, arguing and pleading, cajoling and denouncing him by turns.
  • * 2010 August 4, Michael Scherer, " NonSTARTer? Obama's Troubled Nuclear Treaty," Time :
  • For weeks, the White House, the Pentagon and Senate Democrats have been working overtime to cajole , convince and placate Republicans.

    Synonyms

    * entice, inveigle, wheedle