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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of coax
In a clip on TikTok, Candida Villa-Lobos, 29 and Sebastião Oliveira, 28, attempt to coax a grin from their 2-month-old son, only to be met with an expressionless stare.
—
Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Bulbs properly planted in pots may also be coaxed to bloom again.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2025
On Blue Veil, the British composer coaxes earthy tremors from the cello, turning the sound of bow scrapes and resonant harmony into a languid psychic expanse.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 18 Apr. 2025
Now, last month, there was another star of the big screen in the ring, coaxing Cena to go over to the dark side.
—Obed Manuel, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coax
Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Bulbs properly planted in pots may also be coaxed to bloom again.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2025
On Blue Veil, the British composer coaxes earthy tremors from the cello, turning the sound of bow scrapes and resonant harmony into a languid psychic expanse.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 18 Apr. 2025
Now, last month, there was another star of the big screen in the ring, coaxing Cena to go over to the dark side.
—Obed Manuel, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coax
Verb
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The delayed vote, nonetheless, is a gut punch to Trump who, unlike in previous high-profile votes this Congress, was unable to cajole the House GOP conference around the budget resolution — despite his best efforts.—
Mychael Schnell,
The Hill,
10 Apr. 2025
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In the administrations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Democrats pursued a mix of subsidies and mandates in an attempt to persuade and cajole car manufacturers and consumers to move from gas to electric vehicles.—
The Editors,
National Review,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hybrid models dominate, with companies offering commute perks to lure workers back, per Crunchbase.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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According to the suit, at one point as VML's father tried to secure her release, New Orleans ICE Field Office Director Mellissa Harper began interrogating the family's attorney about the father's immigration status and attempted to lure him into custody as well.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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After turning undead and hiding her bite wound, Mary easily gets permission to re-enter the building, and quickly seduces Stack, before murdering him and infecting him with the vampire curse.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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But the next pope may be seduced by that glitter again.—
Howard Chua-Eoan,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Rewarding a top-10 goal-scorer with the Selke could entice voters.—
Rob Rossi,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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The state’s Department of Insurance is rolling out a series of policy changes aimed at enticing insurers back into the market.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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Its attempts last fall to woo American Athletic Conference schools Memphis, Tulane, USF and UTSA fell short.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Males choose conspicuous basking locations — a rock, stucco wall or, well, a fence — to woo females and proclaim ownership of a territory.—
Sean Greene,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Police spokesperson Rob Shaw told WFTS that authorities are urging any witnesses with information about the crash to come forward.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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Commissioner Cox urged any witnesses of the crash to contact the Boston Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That’s a lot of unspent money and begs the question: Is more tax needed from an industry that’s shrinking, not growing?—
Andrew DeAngelo,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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And the neglect of the property over the years begs the question if the city has any interest in helping the area maintain its flavor as gentrification becomes hypercharged.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coax. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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