coaxing

[ kohk-sing ]
See synonyms for coaxing on Thesaurus.com
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.

Origin of coaxing

1
First recorded in 1670–80; coax1 + -ing1 for the noun senses; coax1 + -ing2 for the adjective sense

Other words from coaxing

  • coax·ing·ly, adverb
  • half-coax·ing, adjective
  • half-coax·ing·ly, adverb
  • un·coax·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use coaxing in a sentence

  • You will be in again this week, she said coaxingly, you can give me ten minutes out of your busy-ness.

    Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline | Jennie M. Drinkwater
  • "You'll be charmed if you go over the house at Winstead, Mr. Lepel," said Mrs. Rumbold coaxingly.

    A Life Sentence | Adeline Sergeant
  • Then, very coaxingly, "Didn't you bring your old Nannie a souvenir from the war?"

    Four Days | Hetty Hemenway
  • Uncle,” said the niece, very coaxingly, “I didn't say it had come to the end.

  • "You can broil a chicken as good as any French cook," a man would coaxingly declare.

    The Blue and The Gray | A. R. White