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

Entrepreneurs Karin Walter-Mommert and Walter Gunz later funded a private rescue, fitting the whale with a tracking device and coaxing it onto a water-filled transport ship called Fortuna B.

From BBC • May 16, 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

Some subjects need a lot of coaxing and direction.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

“Come on,” Archie said, a good friend now, encouraging coaxing.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

Related Words

• bait
• come-on
• inducement
• sweetener