wheedle

Meanings

Plural: wheedles

Verb

influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
To cajole or attempt to persuade by flattery.
To obtain by flattery, guile, or trickery.

Noun

A coaxing person.

Origin / Etymology

Uncertain. Perhaps continuing Middle English wedlen (“to beg, ask for alms”), from Old English wǣdlian (“to be poor, be needy, be in want, beg”), from Proto-Germanic *wēþlōną (“to be in need”).
Alternatively , borrowed from German wedeln (“to wag one's tail”), from Middle High German wedelen, a byform of Middle High German wadelen (“to wander, waver, wave, whip, stroke, flutter”), from Old High German wādalōn (“to wander, roam, rove”). In this case, it may be a doublet of waddle, or an independently formed etymological equivalent.
The ⟨wh⟩ spelling (reflecting pronunciations with /ʍ/) is apparently unetymological.

Synonyms

blarney, cajole, coax, inveigle, palaver, sweet-talk

Scrabble Score: 14

wheedle is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
wheedle is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
wheedle is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

wheedle is a valid Words With Friends word