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Unctuous vs Cajole - What's the difference?

unctuous | cajole |

As an adjective unctuous

is (of a liquid or fatty substance) oily or greasy.

As a verb cajole is

.

unctuous

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (of a liquid or fatty substance) Oily or greasy.
  • * 1851 , , Moby Dick , ch. 96:
    • In a word, after being tried out, the crisp, shrivelled blubber, now called scraps or fritters, still contains considerable of its unctuous properties.
  • Rich, lush, intense, with layers of concentrated, soft, velvety flavor.
  • * 1872 , , Beauty and The Beast; and Tales of Home , ch. 3:
    • The halls and passages of the castle were already permeated with rich and unctuous smells, and a delicate nose might have picked out and arranged, by their finer or coarser vapors, the dishes preparing for the upper and lower tables.
  • (by extension, of a person) Profusely polite, especially unpleasantly so and insincerely earnest.
  • * 1857 , , Volume the Second, page 14 (ISBN 1857150570)
    • Then he thoroughly disliked the tone of Mr. Slope's letter; it was unctuous , false, and unwholesome, like the man.
  • * 1919 , , The Hohenzollerns in America , ch. 8:
    • In superior circles, however, introduction becomes more elaborate, more flattering, more unctuous .

    Synonyms

    * (of a liquid) oleaginous, saponaceous, slimy * savorous * creepy, effusive, groveling, oleaginous, slimy, sycophantic

    Derived terms

    * unctuosity * unctuously * unctuousness

    Related terms

    * anoint * inunction * ointment * unction * unguent

    External links

    * * *

    cajole

    English

    Verb

  • (transitive, and, intransitive) To persuade someone to do something which they are reluctant to do, especially by flattery or promises; to coax.
  • * 1722 , , Moll Flanders , ch. 12:
    • Then he cajoled with his brother, and persuaded him what service he had done him.
  • * 1820 , , The Abbot , ch. 27:
    • If you are cajoled by the cunning arguments of a trumpeter of heresy, or the praises of a puritanic old woman, is not that womanish?
  • * 1894 , , Only An Irish Boy , ch. 19:
    • He had tried bullying, and without success. He would try cajoling and temptation.
  • * 1898 , , The Battle Of The Strong , ch. 37:
    • [W]ith eloquent arts he had cajoled a young girl into a secret marriage.
  • * 1917 , , King Coal , ch. 8:
    • Schulman, general manager of the "G. F. C.," had been sending out messengers to hunt for him, and finally had got him in his office, arguing and pleading, cajoling and denouncing him by turns.
  • * 2010 August 4, Michael Scherer, " NonSTARTer? Obama's Troubled Nuclear Treaty," Time :
    • For weeks, the White House, the Pentagon and Senate Democrats have been working overtime to cajole , convince and placate Republicans.

    Synonyms

    * entice, inveigle, wheedle