What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Ridicule vs Cajole - What's the difference?

ridicule | cajole |

As verbs the difference between ridicule and cajole

is that ridicule is to criticize or disapprove of someone or something through scornful jocularity; to make fun of while cajole is to persuade someone to do something which they are reluctant to do, especially by flattery or promises; to coax.

As a noun ridicule

is derision; mocking or humiliating words or behaviour.

As an adjective ridicule

is ridiculous.

ridicule

English

Verb

(ridicul)
  • to criticize or disapprove of someone or something through scornful jocularity; to make fun of
    • His older sibling constantly ridiculed him with sarcastic remarks.

    Synonyms

    * (l)

    Noun

  • derision; mocking or humiliating words or behaviour
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Safe from the bar, the pulpit, and the throne, / Yet touched and shamed by ridicule alone.
  • An object of sport or laughter; a laughing stock.
  • * Buckle
    • [Marlborough] was so miserably ignorant, that his deficiencies made him the ridicule of his contemporaries.
  • * Foxe
    • To the people but a trifle, to the king but a ridicule .
  • The quality of being ridiculous; ridiculousness.
  • * Addison
    • to see the ridicule of this practice

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Related terms

    * deride * derision * ridiculous * ridiculosity

    See also

    * humiliation

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) ridiculous
    • This action became so ridicule . — Aubrey.
    (Webster 1913)

    External links

    * * ----

    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