1
as in chatting
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
mothers palavering and drinking coffee while watching their children play
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in coaxing
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery
I let the salesclerk at the electronics store palaver me into a service contract that I didn't need
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palavering
Verb
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Then, almost two years into the investigation, Langston stopped by the police station and was chatting with a different administrator, who asked Langston whether the initial search had also been conducted in an older database that not everybody on staff knew about.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026 -
When chatting at the Future 50 last summer, Green spoke for more than 12 minutes about his top schools and did not mention Georgia until the program was brought up.—
Jeff Sentell,
AJC.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Sacramento Bee political reporter Lia Russell, meanwhile, found coaxing their frog to jump nearly as difficult as coaxing a succinct answer out of California’s famously verbose governor.—
Andrew Graham
May 6,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
-
Many of us don't have the time—or the skill—to work at coaxing flowers out of the garden.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The straight-talking Benatia, who became sporting director in January 2025 after previously working for the club in an advisory role, fit a similar mould.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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Riley was equally at ease when talking with the dentist, listening patiently as the man described his fancy new house in a gentrified area.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Verb
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On her last day in Reggio Emilia, Middleton visited with schoolchildren in the woods—even sitting in the grass and sharing stories of her own kids while conversing with the students.—
Stefania Saltalamacchia,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
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On April 30, the TikTok star, 25, and the Houston Texans wide receiver, 30, were spotted conversing at the Sports Illustrated x Authentic Brands Group party at The Surf Club Restaurant in Miami.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Palavering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palavering. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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