coax
1to influence or persuade to do something by gentle urging, smooth talk, flattery, etc.: He tried to coax her to sing, but she refused.
to obtain by coaxing: We coaxed the secret from him.
to manipulate to a desired end by adroit handling or persistent effort: He coaxed the large chair through the door.
Obsolete.
to fondle.
to fool; deceive.
to use gentle persuasion.
Origin of coax
1Other words from coax
- coax·er, noun
Words Nearby coax
Other definitions for coax (2 of 2)
Origin of coax
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use coax in a sentence
The congregation was warm, friendly, and welcoming—traits, he says, he later came to believe they used to coax members in.
And of course Baelish materialized (at just the right moment) to save Sansa and coax Lysa away from the ledge.
Game of Thrones’ Ep. 7 ‘Mockingbird’ Recap: Conscious Coupling (and Uncoupling) | Andrew Romano | May 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTEven after all the heroes are gone, it lays dormant, waiting for light to coax it out of the shadows.
Homestar Runner, Trogdor the Burninator, and the Birth of the Internet | Rich Goldstein | April 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSo instead of tapping into spare capacity, Uber had to coax new capacity into being.
He tried to coax the distraught girl out of silence, inquiring about her school and family life, but her replies were clipped.
How One Sex Abuse Case Tore Apart the Williamsburg Hasidim | Allison Yarrow | August 8, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
But he soon got over his fear, and was so busy feeding the elephant, that his papa had to coax him away.
The Nursery, July 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 1 | VariousSue drew Tessa aside to coax in her plaintively miserable voice, Come home with me; father will say things, and I shall be afraid.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline | Jennie M. DrinkwaterThe doctors said we must take the child away, if we would coax her back to health and strength again.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Complete | Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)Dont lets overeat, said Tootles seriously, trying to coax forth a smile.
The Woman Gives | Owen JohnsonHere, you take hold of the chain, and I will coax the dog to be quiet while I put Jacko on his back.
Minnie's Pet Monkey | Madeline Leslie
British Dictionary definitions for coax (1 of 2)
/ (kəʊks) /
to seek to manipulate or persuade (someone) by tenderness, flattery, pleading, etc
(tr) to obtain by persistent coaxing
(tr) to work on or tend (something) carefully and patiently so as to make it function as one desires: he coaxed the engine into starting
(tr) obsolete to caress
(tr) obsolete to deceive
Origin of coax
1Derived forms of coax
- coaxer, noun
- coaxingly, adverb
British Dictionary definitions for coax (2 of 2)
/ (ˈkəʊæks) /
short for coaxial cable
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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