coaxing

American  

[kohk-sing] / ˈkoʊk sɪŋ /

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.

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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 Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of coaxing

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

Example Sentences

Baschek said the whale's breathing and reaction to rescuers had deteriorated, and that the chances of coaxing him out of the bay were so slim it would be cruel to try.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Time does a surprising amount of work here, coaxing starches to tenderness and flavors to meet each other halfway.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

"With a face full of resentment and helplessness, it really looks like an employee coaxing themselves to go to work," wrote one Weibo user.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

Having helped push the American landscape forcibly into the future, he spent the rest of his life coaxing one corner of it back to its past.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

But he doesn’t, he walks away from her, rocking the child, whispering to her again, coaxing her back to sleep, and then Anna starts to scream.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

Related Words

• bait
• come-on
• inducement
• sweetener