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 While many food jars have removable labels, the sticky labels can sometimes be a challenge to coax off. — Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 20 July 2026 At Somers, inmates could open cell windows and Smith coaxed dozens of pigeons into his cell and adopted them as pets. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026 The team is working on building ribosomes from genetic instructions, a process that involves synthesizing the dozens of proteins and RNA strands involved and coaxing them to assemble in the right order. — Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 14 July 2026 El Niños roll in periodically and last nine to 12 months as Pacific trade winds weaken and push warm water back toward the West Coast, coaxing the jet stream lower. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for coax

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coax

Verb

Ostensibly playing themselves, the group here gathers at a country manse to celebrate one member’s breakaway mainstream success — and for the other three to beg/cajole him into sharing that good fortune.

— Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 July 2026
Someone there has to be gobbier and start cajoling players into their proper positions.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of cajole

Verb

Kehoe and other supporters argued that eliminating the income tax would boost the state’s economy and lure new companies and residents to Missouri.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Charges say the woman's son orchestrated a robbery targeting Goodsell, using another man's phone and vehicle to lure him.

— WCCO Staff, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of lure

Verb

There could be enough of the Heat’s mid-level exception available to entice Klay Thompson into taking a Mavericks buyout.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
The main sticking point is Real Madrid’s failure to offer something that entices both City and the player, whose contract expires at the Etihad on June 30, 2027.

— Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 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

Quinnipiac’s poll earlier this month comes as Politico reported that the GOP is quietly trying to woo the Pennsylvania Democrat to switch parties.

— Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Nonetheless, the league did succeed in wooing major players like Rahm, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka away from the PGA tour with massive monetary promises.

— Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of woo

Verb

In June, the New Jersey attorney general filed a lawsuit against the site’s operator, The GEO Group, urging a court to close the facility until the state could inspect it over longstanding allegations of inhumane conditions.

— Alex Stambaugh, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
On Semafor’s Mixed Signals podcast in July, former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy reflected on whether the Biden administration took the right approach to public health communication by urging the tech platforms to regulate health misinformation.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of urge

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“Coax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coax. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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