Synonyms

coaxing

American

[kohk-sing] / ˈkoʊk sɪŋ /

noun

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.
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

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

From Salon

The 25-year-old tech engineer has been coached by his cousin, coaxing the kite higher and higher with a twitch of the string.

From BBC

Casting its relentless sunshine as a background character, coaxing neighbors out of their shells and into verdant parks and yards and onto their manicured streets, is part of that.

From Salon

"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

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023