COAX Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'coax' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of coax are blandish , cajole , soft-soap , and wheedle . While all these words mean "to influence or persuade by pleasing words or actions," coax implies gentle and persistent words or actions employed to produce a desired effect. // coaxed the cat out of the tree

Q: When could 'blandish' be used to replace 'coax'?

The meanings of blandish and coax largely overlap; however, blandish implies a more open desire to win a person over by effusive praise and affectionate actions. // legislators blandished with promises of support

Q: Where would 'cajole' be a reasonable alternative to 'coax'?

In some situations, the words cajole and coax are roughly equivalent. However, cajole suggests the deliberate use of flattery to persuade in the face of reluctance or reasonable objections. // cajoled him into cheating on the final exam

Q: When is it sensible to use 'soft-soap' instead of 'coax'?

Although the words soft-soap and coax have much in common, soft-soap refers to using smooth and somewhat insincere talk usually for personal gain. // politicians soft-soaping eligible voters

Q: In what contexts can 'wheedle' take the place of 'coax'?

The words wheedle and coax are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wheedle suggests more strongly than cajole the use of seductive appeal or artful words in persuading. // hucksters wheedling her life's savings out of her

coax

verb

ˈkōks

Definition of coax

as in to cajole

to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery trying to coax their father into taking them on a ski trip, the teens mentioned what a great skier he is

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb coax differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of coax are blandish, cajole, soft-soap, and wheedle. While all these words mean "to influence or persuade by pleasing words or actions," coax implies gentle and persistent words or actions employed to produce a desired effect.

coaxed the cat out of the tree

When could blandish be used to replace coax?

The meanings of blandish and coax largely overlap; however, blandish implies a more open desire to win a person over by effusive praise and affectionate actions.

legislators blandished with promises of support

Where would cajole be a reasonable alternative to coax?

In some situations, the words cajole and coax are roughly equivalent. However, cajole suggests the deliberate use of flattery to persuade in the face of reluctance or reasonable objections.

cajoled him into cheating on the final exam

When is it sensible to use soft-soap instead of coax?

Although the words soft-soap and coax have much in common, soft-soap refers to using smooth and somewhat insincere talk usually for personal gain.

politicians soft-soaping eligible voters

In what contexts can wheedle take the place of coax?

The words wheedle and coax are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wheedle suggests more strongly than cajole the use of seductive appeal or artful words in persuading.

hucksters wheedling her life's savings out of her

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of coax The run game remains underwhelming, but if Quinn can coax his players toward gradual improvement and competitive performances in spite of their limitations, his job security could improve. — Mike Jones, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Rescuers carefully coaxed the snake away from the home and boxed it up for relocation shortly after their arrival. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026 Energy from the sun helps reactions between those blocks along, coaxing them to form polymers, or longer chains of molecules. — Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026 Some analysts argue that the Obama administration set a hopeful precedent on AI cooperation by coaxing China to join the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for coax

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coax

Verb

But the Marlins plan to be moderately active in free agency — regardless of whether the owners succeed in cajoling the players to accept a salary cap and salary floor in what are expected to be contentious labor negotiations.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026
But Ridgeway pushes on, trying various means — flattery, insults, amateur psychology — to cajole her into delivering a new Ripley book.

— Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of cajole

Verb

This is a different message his predecessor, Greg Norman, had in 2022 when LIV Golf launched by spending more than $1 billion to lure away stars who couldn't ignore the money.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Rather than through a cold call or email, the scammers lure them through websites offering self-publishing or vanity publishing.

— Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of lure

Verb

The second allows the devil to slide into his DMs, utilizing a seduce-and-destroy approach that will eventually lead to Sutskever becoming OpenAI’s resident Chicken Little and the tech industry’s conscientious objector.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
Artificial plays like a modern-day parable in which the trickster god seduces the innocent.

— E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of seduce

Verb

As the midterms near, leaders across the party have been meeting with MAHA activists, discussing potential openings with consultants, and rolling out food and environmental agendas meant to entice these voters.

— Daniel Payne, STAT, 7 Oct. 2026
Caruso has been charged with kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse inflicting mental injury.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of entice

Verb

Chef Albert was a restaurateur trying to wheedle a good review out of a tough restaurant critic.

— Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
In a bid to rekindle the couple’s honeymoon phase, Yasmin troubleshoots by wheedling a chief executive role for him at payment processing company Tender (run by Max Minghella‘s inscrutable puppet-master Whitney Halberstram), and throwing her husband a lavish costume party for his 40th birthday.

— Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 18 Jan. 2026

Definition of wheedle

Verb

Luca Guadagnino One of the best films of the 2010s, this drama stars Timothée Chalamet as a boy who discovers his own sexuality when he’s wooed by an older man, played by Armie Hammer.

— Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
The Oklahoma City Thunder employ the NBA’s largest operations staff from the league’s third-smallest market, and woo talent with distinctive offerings like concierge health care for players’ families.

— Chris Park, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of woo

Verb

The group’s president and CEO, Steve Lamar, said the AAFA is urging stronger action against platforms that enable the trade of dupes and fakes, which can be dangerous to consumers as the illicit goods are produced through unregulated operations.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Police urged anyone who sees Poindexter to call law enforcement and not attempt to approach him.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of urge

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“Coax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coax. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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