blandish

UK: /ˈblændɪʃ/ US: (blan′dish)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

blan•dish  (blan′dish), v.t. 

1. to coax or influence by gentle flattery;
   cajole:
   They blandished the guard into letting them through the gate.

v.i. 

2. to use flattery or cajolery.

• Latin blandīrī to soothe, flatter. See bland, -ish²
• Anglo-French, Middle French blandiss-, long stem of blandir
• Middle English blandisshen 1350–1400

blan′dish•er, n. 
blan′dish•ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

blandish / ˈblændɪʃ/ verb

1. (transitive) to seek to persuade or influence by mild flattery; coax

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French blandir from Latin blandīrī