Synonym Chooser

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 Its aroma alone is enough to coax anyone out of bed for a warm, cozy breakfast or brunch. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2025 Who is best suited to safely de-escalate a mental health crisis and coax a person to accept care? Calmatters, Mercury News, 5 May 2025 All the same, Cronenberg gives the material an appropriately wintry melancholia, while coaxing an iconically intense (and quotable!) performance from his star, Christopher Walken. A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025 Read more At Philadelphia airport, pope blesses, kisses head of disabled boy Pope Francis kissed the forehead of a boy with cerebral palsy after landing in Philadelphia, coaxing a small smile from the profoundly disabled 10-year-old. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for coax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coax
Verb
  • June and Mayday were only able to figure out their whereabouts after cajoling Serena into giving out their location.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • Giles and Benham cajoled a devastated squad — several players were crying — and told them they would get promoted the next season.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Brooks, in her movies, lures men to their doom—or taunts men with her availability, only to refuse them.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
  • He was named head coach of the Red Wings in May 2015 after the Toronto Maple Leafs lured Babcock out of Detroit with an eight-year, $50 million deal, the NHL’s richest contract for a coach at the time.
    Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Sirens is smartest when paralleling the entitlement of 21st century American wealth with Ancient Greek divinity, skewering the insularity and entitlement of these modern plutocrats who throw galas to honor themselves and to torment or seduce the mortals who are their employees and playthings.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025
  • This would suck capital investment back to America in a nanosecond and financially seduce companies to reshore factories, labs and headquarters back here with bargain-low tax rates.
    Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • The Navy also has spent considerably more than the others to entice sailors to reenlist, doling out retention bonuses to roughly 70,000 service members for each of the past three years.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 May 2025
  • Duffy recently announced a sweeping program to upgrade the agency's technology infrastructure, as well as hiring incentives to entice more would-be air traffic controllers.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • And yet, about four years ago, images of myself with flaxen hair started to wheedle their way into my brain and park there.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 4 Apr. 2025
  • And soon thereafter, the mirror image: Sparks switches from playing wheedling Jerry to playing upright Bram in a harrowing scene with Arnold.
    Jesse Green, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Only a couple teams can attract a Messi or a Beckham, while far more have a shot at wooing a player like Vela: someone still on the south side of 30, with a few prime years left to give before evolving into an elder statesman and eventually an off-the-field club embassador.
    Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • The Army and Marine Corps also use the money to woo troops to some combat, armor and artillery jobs.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • Trump met personally with the GOP conference that morning, urging them to stop pushing for more changes and get behind the bill.
    Riley Beggin, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Since May 2024, Jupiter has moved through your zone of intimacy, depth, and mutual resources, urging you to be more discerning about emotional risk.
    Colin Bedell, Them., 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Until her death at age 25, Emily would beg to be taken to the carousel at the mall near her home in Columbia, Maryland.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • But coming from the multiracial, multiethnic U.S., his background begged for further description.
    Rebecca R. Bibbs, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Coax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coax. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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