coax
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
to 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.
-
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
-
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
-
obsolete (tr) to caress
-
obsolete (tr) to deceive
noun
Other Word Forms
- coaxer noun
- coaxingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of coax1
First recorded in 1580–90; verb use of obsolete cokes “fool,” perhaps variant of coxcomb ( def. )
Origin of coax2
First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The stubborn squash that won’t soften, the freezer-end chicken that smells faintly metallic, the limp carrot you almost tossed: time, heat and gentle attention coax them into flavor, texture and presence.
From Salon
There’s a surprising joy to be found in coaxing the absolute most from humble ingredients—if you can be bothered to notice.
From Salon
Some subjects need a lot of coaxing and direction.
From Los Angeles Times
If Villa are to maintain their title bid, Emery will have to coax more eye-catching performances from Rogers, whose first-half opener was a sublime curler into the top corner from just inside the area.
From Barron's
In response to the lawsuit, lawyers for Boyd and Williams tried for months to coax McMurrough into appearing for a deposition to recount what he saw.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
