to palaver

Examples

• All

• He managed to palaver his co-workers into staying late to help him finish the project.

• She always palavers her way into the best parties.

• They spent hours palavering the stubborn client, hoping he would accept their proposal.

• Don't palaver me with empty promises!

• She palavered her friends into joining her on the trip with sweet words and charm.

• He tried to palaver his way out of trouble by flattering his teacher.

• They palavered the difficult customer into seeing the benefits of their product.

Synonyms

C

to coax

vsto palaver

54 4.1

To gently persuade someone by being kind and patient

includes flattery and caressing as well as patient persuasion

S

to sweet-talk

vsto palaver

• Informal

23 5.3

To persuade someone by saying nice things to them

adds nonverbal caressing and gentler urging beyond smooth talking

C

to cajole

vsto palaver

15 7.7

To persuade someone to do something by gentle talk and praise

can also include gentle caressing or broader flattering beyond repeated appeals

W

to wheedle

vsto palaver

5 7.9

To persuade someone by gentle praise or asking nicely

is the broader term with that same gentle persuading sense

I

to inveigle

vsto palaver

• Formal

2 9.5

To get someone to do something by flattering or tricking them

is gentler and lacks the emphasis on trickery or sneakiness

B

to blarney

vsto palaver

9.5

Persuade someone with flattering talk to gain an advantage

is slightly more general and can involve physical caressing too

E

to engle

vsto palaver

• Archaic

9.9

To gently persuade someone by praise or charm

is the modern common form rather than the archaic usage

Antonyms

D

to dissuade

35 6.0

To try to stop someone from doing something by talking to them

How Persuasive

to wheedle

5 7.9

to palaver

• Archaic

9.9

to coax

54 4.1

to encourage

∞ 2.3

to suggest

∞ 1.6

to ask

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology