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View synonyms for coaxing

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.

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Other Word Forms

  • coaxingly adverb
  • half-coaxing adjective
  • half-coaxingly adverb
  • uncoaxing adjective
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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
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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.

“We weren’t able to free it by just coaxing it out.”

Staff working on the project start early in the morning, walking around the docks and coaxing workers off the boats with promises of free health screenings and physio.

From BBC

Then something subtle but definitive occurs as Chris rises off his couch: a man and a woman lean in and nuzzle his neck, coaxing both a shiver and a smile out of him.

From Salon

Clinic staff start early in the morning, walking around the docks and coaxing workers off the boats with promises of free health screenings and physio.

From BBC

I didn’t yet know how to trust food to become itself without a bit of coaxing, so I poked and stirred and second-guessed, throwing in handfuls of things that didn’t always belong.

From Salon

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