to earwig

Examples

• All

• Rumors spread quickly when people are earwigged in secret conversations.

• Don't earwig me!

• He was earwigged by his colleagues before the meeting.

• Tom earwigged Sarah to change her vote.

• She tried to earwig her friend into supporting her proposal during the meeting.

• The politician thought he could earwig the committee members by sharing his personal story.

• It was clear that someone had attempted to earwig the negotiations to sway them in their favor.

Synonyms

S

to sway

vsto earwig

81 3.6

To cause someone to change their opinion or decision

influences by secret whispering rather than general methods

W

to wheedle

vsto earwig

5 7.9

To persuade someone by gentle praise or asking nicely

uses private whispering rather than open gentle coaxing

I

to inveigle

vsto earwig

• Formal

2 9.5

To get someone to do something by flattering or tricking them

uses secret private whispers instead of praise or coaxing

T

to twist someone's arm

vsto earwig

• Informal

1 4.4

Get someone to agree or do something by pressuring them

uses quiet secret whispers rather than force or pressure

A

a word in someone's ear

vsto earwig

• Informal

6.3

A private talk to give advice or a warning

aims to sway opinion secretly rather than simply give information

Antonyms

S

to speak openly

7 3.4

Talk honestly without hiding facts or feelings

Compounds

C

common European earwig

• UK

7.9

An insect with pincers that often lives in gardens and may damage flower bulbs

How Persuasive

to manipulate

382 6.1

to earwig

• UK

9.8

to coax

54 4.1

to whisper

586 1.0

to suggest

∞ 1.6

to hint

136 2.0

to mention

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology