He wheedled quite a bit of money from her. She pleaded and wheedled, but I wouldn't be swayed.

Recent Examples on the Web

His Frank exhibits no concern for his son, but does want to make sure Maggie gets none of the benefit of the trust-fund money Tom had to wheedle out of his father and more sympathetic brother Nate (Josh McKenzie). John Anderson, WSJ, "‘The Sounds’ Review: Crime, Sabotage and Sweeping Seascapes," 2 Sep. 2020

Still, when the weather starts to feel more summery — however punishing that summer might be — burger cravings always seem to wheedle their way out of the woodwork. Dominic Armato, azcentral, "3 of the best restaurants for takeout burgers in metro Phoenix this week," 28 May 2020

But when Rose-Lynn opens her mouth to sing–her speaking voice has a Glaswegian burr, but her singing voice is all Tennessee–you’re wheedled into forgetting her flaws and sins and wanting only the best for her and her kids. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, "Country Music Crosses the Pond in Wild Rose," 20 June 2019

One of the latter, Hugh Dancy’s Charlie, tries, almost successfully, to wheedle her into bed; another, Reid Scott’s Tom, the show’s head monologue writer, feels threatened and tries to block her best ideas. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, "Review: Late Night Is a Pitch-Perfect Workplace Comedy," 7 June 2019

Another is about a very loud teenage neighbor in the West Village who wheedles his way into her psyche. Sophie Haigney, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘Look Alive Out There: Essays,’ by Sloane Crosley," 4 May 2018

Give credit to Gutekunst for wheedling a 2019 first-round pick out of the Saints to move from 14 to 27 in the first round Thursday night. Peter King, SI.com, "2018 Draft: Magnets, Mayfield and the Browns’ Big Secret," 30 Apr. 2018

He and his voice have been described as aloof, eerily neutral, silky, wheedling, controlled, baleful, unisex, droll, soft, conversational, dreamy, supremely calm and rational. Gerry Flahive, New York Times, "The Story of a Voice: HAL in ‘2001’ Wasn’t Always So Eerily Calm," 30 Mar. 2018

For decades, North Korean officials have angled to meet with a high-level U.S. representative using all measures of persuasion, whining, wheedling, threatening and even hostage-taking. Barbara Demick, latimes.com, "Whatever comes next, North Korea's Kim Jong Un can claim a win against Trump," 10 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wheedle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.