🦷 A jaw bone 🗣️ To pressure by talking 💬 To chat

to jawbone

1 7.9

Talk strongly to someone to try to persuade them

verb
/ˈdʒɔːboʊn/

Literature

: presionar

She jawboned him into accepting the job offer.

Examples

During the meeting, the senator tried to jawbone his colleagues to vote in favor of the new healthcare bill.
The mayor tried to jawbone local businesses into hiring more workers.
Government officials often jawbone companies to lower prices for consumers.
She spent hours jawboning the committee to support her proposal.
Don't jawbone me about that issue!
The activist used every opportunity to jawbone officials into supporting environmental initiatives.
Experts often jawbone the public about the importance of voting in local elections.

Synonyms

to drive

vsto jawbone

∞ 3.6

To cause someone to want to do something strongly

focuses on forceful talking and public appeals rather than inner motivation

to persuade

vsto jawbone

472 2.7

To make someone agree or do something by giving reasons

uses louder, forceful public appeals rather than reasoned private argument

to press

vsto jawbone

285 3.9

Ask someone firmly and repeatedly to do something

is more about loud public appeals and forceful talk than gentle urging

to talk into

vsto jawbone

236 3.0

Make someone agree to do something by giving reasons

relies more on forceful public talking than gentle explanation

to pressure

vsto jawbone

149 4.2

To try to make someone do something

relies on loud talking and public appeals rather than subtle influence

to sway

vsto jawbone

81 3.6

To cause someone to change their opinion or decision

uses louder, public pressure and forceful speech rather than subtle influence

to entice

vsto jawbone

61 4.9

To persuade someone to do something by offering something they want

uses direct loud pressure and public appeals rather than attraction

to coax

vsto jawbone

54 4.1

To gently persuade someone by being kind and patient

uses forceful public speech and pressure rather than gentle patience

to nudge

vsto jawbone

24 4.1

To gently encourage someone to try something new

is louder and more forceful, using public appeals instead of nudges

to cajole

vsto jawbone

15 7.7

To persuade someone to do something by gentle talk and praise

is harsher and more public, using strong talking and pressure

to solicit

vsto jawbone

NSFW

7 7.7

Urge someone to do something illegal

focuses on public forceful talking to persuade legal or general actions

to bludgeon

vsto jawbone

NSFW

6 8.2

To force someone to do something by threats or strong pressure

uses forceful speech and public appeals rather than physical imagery

to shove down someone's throat

vsto jawbone

Informal

2 9.1

Force someone to accept an idea they do not want

uses public verbal pressure rather than merely imposing privately

to rope in

vsto jawbone

Informal

2 5.4

Convince someone to join an activity, often when they do not want to

relies more on public forceful talking than quiet recruitment

to bring pressure to bear

vsto jawbone

Formal

1 6.0

To use influence to persuade someone to do something

uses forceful public talking rather than general influence

to twist someone's arm

vsto jawbone

Informal

1 4.4

Get someone to agree or do something by pressuring them

focuses more on forceful public speech than direct personal pressure

to force down someone's throat

vsto jawbone

Informal

1 8.3

Make someone accept ideas or opinions they do not want by pressuring them

does the same but emphasizes loud public talking and appeals

to engle

vsto jawbone

Archaic

9.9

To gently persuade someone by praise or charm

is more modern and louder, using public pressure and forceful talk

Compounds

lower jawbone

Specialized

1 3.0

The bone at the bottom of the mouth that moves to open and close it

upper jawbone

1 4.2

The bone at the top of the mouth that holds the upper teeth and joins the skull

How Forceful

to coerce

Offensive

91 6.4

to pressure

149 4.2

to jawbone

Literature

1 7.9

to persuade

472 2.7

to recommend

∞ 2.1

to suggest

∞ 1.6

Surface Forms

jawbone infinitive

jawboned past

jawboned past participle

jawboning present participle

jawbones third person singular

Etymology

Jawbone (to pressure by talking) uses the same image of the moving jaw as a kind of tool; a helpful way to remember it is to imagine someone 'using their jaw' to push others with words, which is why it now means trying to persuade or pressure people by talking.