as in persuading
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as in cajoling
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of coaxing
Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Feb. 2026
Hair that’s naturally less heavy can hold more shape and bounce when styling, but maintaining a full-bodied look might take some extra coaxing.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 9 Feb. 2026
Pushing, pulling and coaxing wins out of his team amid bleak situations is what Tomlin does.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Seeman was doing her usual thing on Friday, coaxing batters to hit ground balls and pop-ups.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026
Sacramento Bee political reporter Lia Russell, meanwhile, found coaxing their frog to jump nearly as difficult as coaxing a succinct answer out of California’s famously verbose governor.
—Andrew Graham
may 6, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
Many of us don't have the time—or the skill—to work at coaxing flowers out of the garden.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Emery had been incessant in wanting shorter, faster balls from his deeper players, with Villa’s best opportunity of the afternoon stemming from brave passing in combination in the first half, coaxing Fulham onto them before John McGinn whipped a ball into the space behind.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The truest equivalency for this, around here, was Dave Checketts hiring Pat Riley, coaxing him out of retirement and bringing him to New York to coach the Knicks.
—Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
Every seasoned gardener knows the particular satisfaction of coaxing beauty from unlikely places — a stubborn perennial that finally blooms, a shaded corner that transforms with the right groundcover.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Miller opened the dog crate, and with some coaxing, C31F stepped out and bounded down the hill out of the yard and to the safety of the railroad.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
No coaxing or pulling from the crate.
—Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Feb. 2026
Hair that’s naturally less heavy can hold more shape and bounce when styling, but maintaining a full-bodied look might take some extra coaxing.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 9 Feb. 2026
Pushing, pulling and coaxing wins out of his team amid bleak situations is what Tomlin does.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
Has anyone had success with these colorful callas, coaxing them to bloom year after year as advertised?
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Seeman was doing her usual thing on Friday, coaxing batters to hit ground balls and pop-ups.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026
Sacramento Bee political reporter Lia Russell, meanwhile, found coaxing their frog to jump nearly as difficult as coaxing a succinct answer out of California’s famously verbose governor.
—Andrew Graham
may 6, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
Many of us don't have the time—or the skill—to work at coaxing flowers out of the garden.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Emery had been incessant in wanting shorter, faster balls from his deeper players, with Villa’s best opportunity of the afternoon stemming from brave passing in combination in the first half, coaxing Fulham onto them before John McGinn whipped a ball into the space behind.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The truest equivalency for this, around here, was Dave Checketts hiring Pat Riley, coaxing him out of retirement and bringing him to New York to coach the Knicks.
—Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
Every seasoned gardener knows the particular satisfaction of coaxing beauty from unlikely places — a stubborn perennial that finally blooms, a shaded corner that transforms with the right groundcover.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Miller opened the dog crate, and with some coaxing, C31F stepped out and bounded down the hill out of the yard and to the safety of the railroad.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coaxing
Noun
-
The 70-year-old was explaining how the revival came about through years-long persuading of Emmy-winning creator and executive producer Linwood Boomer.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Each distortion is what happens when the body does the persuading, and the ideas are just the wardrobe.—
Alexis Coe,
Vanity Fair,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After years of lobbying, cajoling – virtually pleading – state lawmakers back in 2024 finally granted the state Lottery an online presence.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
Nearby, a group of teenage boys try their luck on a slackline over a pool six-and-a-half-feet deep before cajoling each other up to the cliff diving platforms.—
Lauren Keith,
Robb Report,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Checkers can see your shortcuts, your reportorial wheedling, your blind spots.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
That’s because casinos want to show off big winners, luring in more players, while wins in quiet corners might not draw the same attention.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Five suspects face charges after allegedly luring two teens to an Arlington park Wednesday night in order to attack them, police said.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Having not spent more than £3million ($4m) on a player on the way to the top division, the £16m transfer from Roma of Enzo Le Fee was confirmed, while majority shareholder Kyril Louis-Dreyfus used his Swiss contacts to start wooing Granit Xhaka.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
With the June 2 primary days away, California’s top three governor hopefuls barnstormed the state Friday, wooing unions, firing attacks and sharpening contrasts in a tight, high-stakes race.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
That means seducing Paris Carver, Elliot's wife and Bond's ex, portrayed by Teri Hatcher.—
John Russell,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
Nate plays his older neighbors like a fiddle, seducing them with his beauty, money, and youth.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But Epstein’s entreaties to Keita were not limited to business.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
-
On the demand of the Commons, Suffolk is exiled for his part in Gloucester’s death despite the queen’s entreaties to the king.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bahrain’s interior ministry also sounded warning sirens urging residents to seek shelter.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
-
The league also sent a letter to Jordan signed by 21 members of Congress urging caution with any changes to the broadcasting law.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coaxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coaxing. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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