Synonyms of coax

coax

verb

ˈkōks 

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

• cajole
• lure
• seduce
• entice
• wheedle
• woo
• urge
• beg
• sweet-talk
• tempt
• blandish
• soft-soap
• palaver
• flatter
• charm
• massage
• blarney
• beseech
• wangle
• juggle
• importune
• overpraise
• finagle
• wile
• butter up
• adulate
• beguile
• cozen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tease
• harass
• bug
• intimidate
• cow
• require
• pester
• make
• compel
• coerce
• force
• nag
• bully
• browbeat
• demand
• constrain
• oblige
• bulldoze

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

Recent Examples of coax

Following the arrest, police managed to convince her partner, Moore, to help coax a confession from Wuornos. —Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025

Deputies, soon joined by the county’s Psychiatric Emergency Response Team — a unit that pairs law enforcement with mental-health clinicians — sought to coax the man into surrendering peacefully, talking to him through the car and on his cell phone, Jonsen said. —Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025

One of his former teachers was still there, coaxing students to line up neatly. —Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025

Landau had to coax them into it. —Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 25 Oct. 2025

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