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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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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Attempts to coax the animal down with warm milk even failed.—
Rev. Bill Kerr,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
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Newsom coaxed the state Legislature in two special sessions to create a price gouging investigation unit and to require oil refineries to keep extra stocks of gasoline on hand to prevent price spikes when refineries shut down for maintenance.—
Russ Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This is particularly helpful for that that contain peanut butter or for those that contain large amounts of butter.—
Tammy Algood,
The Tennessean,
3 Feb. 2025
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Those with more physical jobs should fuel up with meat, bread, and butter.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Feb. 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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Rich Frank, former president of Disney Studios and founder of Frank Family Vineyards and vice chair of AFI, handled the small screen portion of the program while Washington Post chief film critic Ann Hornaday doled out the praise for the big screen honorees.—
Chris Gardner,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Feb. 2025
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That's high praise mere hours after Antonio Gates was voted into the Hall of Fame.—
Ryan Morik,
Fox News,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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There is a subtle line between flattery and being creepy.—
Kwame Anthony Appiah,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
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Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and the best and most admiring of these Mann-handlers is, by a huge margin, 2018’s Den of Thieves.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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
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The texture ranges in consistency from an oil-like substance to a syrupy sap or even a sticky taffy.—
Jalen Williams,
Detroit Free Press,
9 July 2024
Noun
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Janis overcomes significant obstacles – embezzlement, record industry misogyny, homophobia, and heartbreak – to find love and produce an indelible body of searingly honest songs that earned her a devoted following and critical acclaim.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
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With the acclaim came the spotlight; tabloids obsessed over her string of high-profile relationships, personal traumas, and health issues.—
Puja Patel,
The New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near sweet-talk
Cite this Entry
“Sweet-talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweet-talk. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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