coaxing

[ kohk-sing ]

noun

1. the act of gently persuading, flattering, cajoling, etc., to influence someone to do something:

   There was a high-spirited stallion that no one dared to ride except Ken—after much coaxing by his companions.

2. the act of manipulating something to a desired end by adroit handling or persistent effort:

   It took some coaxing with the wheel puller and a hammer and chisel, but the brake drum is now off.

adjective

1. using gentle persuasion, flattery, etc., to influence someone to do something; cajoling:

   In the pool is a coaxing parent, beckoning her timid offspring forward and ready to catch him when he jumps.

Other Words From

• coax·ing·ly adverb
• half-coax·ing adjective
• half-coax·ing·ly adverb
• un·coax·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of coaxing¹

First recorded in 1670–80; coax ¹ + -ing ¹ for the noun senses; coax ¹ + -ing ² for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

The ladies in the faculty lounge noticed his height and coaxed him to sit next to a fetching 5-foot-10 colleague with an unusual name.

From Voice of San Diego

America’s Test Kitchen often recommends adding baking soda to the water in which you will boil potatoes, which further coaxes out the starch molecules.

From Washington Post

Doctors and nurses descended on Makenzie, trying fruitlessly to coax any sign of life from her body.

From Washington Post

The next coaxed a double-team of James, and Davis popped free for a wide-open elbow jumper.

From FiveThirtyEight

They painstakingly coaxed most of the dormant cells in those sediments back into a state of growth that was more recognizably alive.

From Quanta Magazine

Mondavi also realized the value of coaxing trophy names from Bordeaux into opening wineries in Napa.

From The Daily Beast

The driver in his black suit, white shirt, and black tie shook the reins, coaxing the white horses ahead.

From The Daily Beast

Later, I fell asleep to the sound of Lhoucine gently coaxing his camel and faint ululating from a distant stone cottage.

From The Daily Beast

She hypnotized Cory with her free spirit, freer hair, and asinine name, coaxing him out of his shell and into love with her.

From The Daily Beast

From across the room, I watch her friends, some of them also ill, unsuccessfully coaxing her to eat.

From The Daily Beast

She'd think as little of coaxing a woman's husband from her, as she wu'd of shooting a thief like a doorg.

From Project Gutenberg

Joe saw at once that the man was wild with drink, and he put on a smile, with a notion of coaxing the captain over.

From Project Gutenberg

Coaxing Miss Jewett into her little parlor, she showed her the pictures, and read aloud the letter.

From Project Gutenberg

"Then, for once, I've found a disinterested female in a coaxing mood," replied this modern Diogenes.

From Project Gutenberg

She knelt beside him, holding the cup for him, and by coaxing and entreating made him take a little food.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bland
• slick