Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense coaxes, present participle coaxing, past tense, past participle coaxed
1. verb
If you coax someone into doing something, you gently try to persuade them to do it.
Start trying to coax the rabbit out of its hutch. [VERB noun preposition]
The government coaxed them to give up their strike. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
[Also VERB noun]
2. verb
If you coax something such as information out of someone, you gently persuade them to give itto you.
The police officer talked yesterday of her role in trying to coax vital informationfrom the young victim. [V n + out of/from]
She can coax agreement from even the most stubborn people. [V n out of/from n]
3. verb
If you coax a machine or device into doing something, you make it work by operating it very slowly and gently.
He would stride on stage then proceed to coax the sweetest possible sounds out ofhis violin. [VERB noun preposition]
He was delighted to coax the monoplane to 330 m.p.h. [VERB noun preposition]
More Synonyms of coax
coax in British English1
(kəʊks)
verb
1.
to seek to manipulate or persuade (someone) by tenderness, flattery, pleading, etc
2. (transitive)
to obtain by persistent coaxing
3. (transitive)
to work on or tend (something) carefully and patiently so as to make it function as one desires
he coaxed the engine into starting
4. (transitive) obsolete
to caress
5. (transitive) obsolete
to deceive
Derived forms
coaxer (ˈcoaxer)
noun
coaxingly (ˈcoaxingly)
adverb
Word origin
C16: verb formed from obsolete noun cokes fool, of unknown origin
coax in British English2
(ˈkəʊæks)
noun
short for coaxial cable
coax in American English
(koʊks)
verb transitive
1.
to induce or try to induce to do something; (seek to) persuade by soothing words, an ingratiating manner, etc.; wheedle
2.
to get by coaxing
verb intransitive
3.
to use gentle persuasion, urging, etc.
SYNONYMY NOTE: coax suggests repeated attempts to persuade someone to do something and implies the useof soothing words, an ingratiating manner, etc.; , cajole suggests the use of flattery or other blandishments; , wheedle implies even more strongly the use of subtle flattery or craftily artful behaviorin gaining one's ends
Derived forms
coaxer (ˈcoaxer)
noun
coaxingly (ˈcoaxingly)
adverb
Word origin
orig. slang, “to make a coax of” < obs. slang coax, cox, cokes, a fool, ninny
Examples of 'coax' in a sentence
coax
She was coaxed back slowly but surely on to her artistic path.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You can inspire and gently coax a group who are raising money for a good cause.
The Sun (2007)
You can gently coax a relative to try a healthier lifestyle.
The Sun (2010)
Trying to coax a performance out of a horse is a bit like a puzzle.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The family coaxed him in gently.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
His coaching style is relaxed, gently coaxing but with a hint of steel.
The Sun (2015)
At home, you gently coax the family to try a healthier lifestyle.
The Sun (2010)
Tonight, this involves trying to coax a malnourished bear out of a cave.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The production team buzzed around her like flies, coaxing her gently on to the stage as if they were handling fragile goods.
The Sun (2014)
Then he noticed that sitting next to her was a man who seemed very uncomfortable, touching her arm trying to coax her down.
Christianity Today (2000)
She said: 'People were trying to coax her down.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I'm all for gently coaxing language in a kindly direction; but it cannot be wrenched.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I had to smile when I saw a man trying to coax the dog with a biscuit.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
In other languages
coax
British English: coax VERB
If you coax someone into doing something, you gently try to persuade them to do it.
After lunch, she watched, listened, and coaxed him into talking about himself.
American English: coax
Brazilian Portuguese: persuadir com meiguice
Chinese: 劝诱
European Spanish: engatusar
French: persuader
German: überreden
Italian: indurre (con moine)
Japanese: 説得する
Korean: 구슬리다
European Portuguese: persuadir com meiguice
Latin American Spanish: engatusar
Chinese translation of 'coax'
coax
(kəuks)
vt
to coax sb into doing sth哄某人做某事 (hǒng mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
(verb)
Definition
to persuade (someone) gently
After lunch she coaxed him into talking about himself.
Synonyms
persuade
My husband persuaded me to come.
cajole
It was he who cajoled the actor into making the film.
talk into
wheedle
They managed to wheedle some more money out of me.
sweet-talk (informal)
He even tried to sweet-talk the policewoman who arrested him.
prevail upon
inveigle
soft-soap (informal)
twist (someone's) arm
flatter
I knew he was just flattering me.
entice
Retailers will try almost anything to entice shoppers through their doors.
beguile
allure
The dog was allured by the smell of roasting meat.
Opposites
force
,
threaten
,
bully
,
intimidate
,
harass
,
coerce
,
pressurize
,
browbeat
Additional synonyms
in the sense of allure
The dog was allured by the smell of roasting meat.
Synonyms
attract,
persuade,
charm,
win over,
tempt,
lure,
seduce,
entice,
enchant,
lead on,
coax,
captivate,
beguile,
cajole,
decoy,
inveigle
in the sense of cajole
Definition
to persuade by flattery
It was he who cajoled the actor into making the film.
Synonyms
persuade,
tempt,
lure,
flatter,
manoeuvre,
seduce,
entice,
coax,
beguile,
wheedle,
sweet-talk (informal),
inveigle
in the sense of entice
Definition
to attract (someone) away from one place or activity to another
Retailers will try almost anything to entice shoppers through their doors.