wheedle

UK: /ˈ^hwiːd^əl/ US: /ˈhwidəl, ˈwidəl/ ,(hwēd′l, wēd′l)

Inflections of 'wheedle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

wheedles

v 3rd person singular

wheedling

v pres p

wheedled

v past

wheedled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

whee•dle /ˈhwidəl, ˈwidəl/   v. [~ + object] , -dled, -dling. 

1. to influence or try to persuade (a person), esp. by charming or flattering him or her, in order to gain (something):
   trying to wheedle her into lending me the car; He tried to wheedle some more money from her.

whee•dler, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

whee•dle  (hwēd′l, wēd′l), v., -dled, -dling. 
v.t. 

1. to endeavor to influence (a person) by smooth, flattering, or beguiling words or acts:
   We wheedled him incessantly, but he would not consent.
2. to persuade (a person) by such words or acts:
   She wheedled him into going with her.
3. to obtain (something) by artful persuasions:
   I wheedled a new car out of my father.

v.i. 

4. to use beguiling or artful persuasions:
   I always wheedle if I really need something.

• origin, originally uncertain 1655–65

whee′dler, n. 
whee′dling•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. flatter, cajole.
• 2, 3. coax, beguile, inveigle.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

wheedle / ˈwiːd^əl/ verb

1. to persuade or try to persuade (someone) by coaxing words, flattery, etc
2. (transitive) to obtain by coaxing and flattery: she wheedled some money out of her father

Etymology: 17th Century: perhaps from German wedeln to wag one's tail, from Old High German wedil, wadil tail

ˈwheedler noun

ˈwheedling adjective

ˈwheedlingly adverb