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 Tony reacts by threatening his therapist and storming out, but with some secret tapes, her suspicions are confirmed that Livia coaxed Uncle Junior (Dominic Chianese) into putting a hit on Tony. Skyler Trepel, People.com, 10 June 2025 The midwife coaxes the baby out, doesn’t keep it in. Erica Stern june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025 Lissoni has not erased the building’s soul but coaxed it gently into the present. Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 The plane was at least five thousand pounds over its normal gross weight, but Earhart had coaxed the Electra into the air with her usual casual daring. Laurie Gwen Shapiro, New Yorker, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for coax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coax
Verb
  • Doing prescribed burns safely takes a lot of boots on the ground and behind-the-scenes cajoling to make sure local residents, and regulators, are on board.
    Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
  • In deciding on this course, Putin has also rendered futile any attempts to cajole, lure, or appease him.
    ANDREI YAKOVLEV, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Its inauguration fiesta alone, which featured live music and Lucha Libre, is said to have lured up to 3,500 attendees.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 16 June 2025
  • The nation was in the grip of a devastating deflation, but the ability to acquire land by homesteading or on railroad credit lured continued inward migration and immigration from abroad.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 June 2025
Verb
  • She was also found guilty of disorderly conduct for supposedly trying to seduce an undercover policewoman named Margaret Leonard, who’d been assigned to entrap her.
    Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
  • The first classic of the summer noir genre is no doubt René Clément’s adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel The Talented Mr. Ripley about a young American upstart who travels to Italy and murders a wealthy socialite before stealing his identity and seducing his wife.
    Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Each tune has its own momentum, with several of them enticing audiences and exciting them for his sophomore album American Heart, which arrives tomorrow (Friday, June 20).
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • Netflix may entice its subscribers to chill, but the global streamer is working on new offerings and deals to future-proof its content lineup and business.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • The ObamaCare failure made the tax cut harder, but after months of jawboning and wheedling, the White House got the deal done at the end of 2017.
    Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 2 May 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has a tough needle to thread, as he’s been wooing Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who say spending cuts to Medicaid have gone too far.
    Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 20 June 2025
  • Fort Lauderdale spends millions wooing developers to invest in Sistrunk.
    David Schutz, Sun Sentinel, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • In December, the libertarian Cato Institute published an article urging Trump to privatize the system.
    Joe Hernandez, NPR, 27 June 2025
  • Heavy rain prompts traffic advisory on North 94th Street in Kansas City Drivers urged to exercise caution as heavy rain prompts traffic warning between I-70 West and State Avenue on North 94th Street.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Orlov’s brutal playoff showing begs the question of whether or not this is the start of the end for him.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 18 June 2025
  • Which begs the question, how many breaches have there been, and have any other third-party contractors aside from TaskUs been compromised?
    Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Coax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coax. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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