Meaning & use
coax
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To persuade a person or animal to do something by being gentle, patient and encouraging rather than forceful.
Grammar: Takes an object, often with into plus -ing or an infinitive: coax him into trying.
Patterns
- coax someone into doing something
- coax someone to do something
- coax someone out of something
She coaxed the shy kitten out from under the sofa with a bit of chicken.
He coaxed his little sister into trying the soup.
The nurse coaxed the old man to take his medicine.
verbtransitive
To get something such as information, a result or a reaction from a person or thing through careful, patient effort.
Grammar: Often with out of or from: coax a secret out of someone.
Patterns
- coax something out of someone
- coax something from something
The journalist coaxed a few details out of the nervous witness.
After an hour, he coaxed the old engine back to life.
She coaxed a smile from the baby with a silly face.
Word forms
| third person singular | coaxes |
|---|---|
| past tense | coaxed |
| past participle | coaxed |
| -ing form | coaxing |
Common combinations
- coax into
- They coaxed the toddler into putting on his coat.
- coax out of
- He coaxed the truth out of his friend.
- gently coax
- She gently coaxed the horse across the stream.
- coax a smile
- The clown coaxed a smile from the sad child.
- coax back to life
- The gardener coaxed the dying plant back to life.
Synonyms and how they differ
- persuade
- Persuade is neutral and can involve reasoned argument, while coax stresses gentle, patient charm.
- cajole
- Cajole suggests flattery or smooth talk, and sounds a little more manipulative than coax.
- wheedle
- Wheedle is about getting something by sweet-talking, and it has a more selfish, sly feel than coax.
- urge
- Urge is more insistent and open, whereas coax relies on gentleness.
Opposites
Word family
- coaxing noun
- the act of gentle persuasion
- coaxingly adverb
- in a gently persuading way
- coaxer noun
- someone who coaxes
Commonly confused: coax or coax (cable)? coax or cox?
coax vs coax (cable)
Coax is also a shortened word for coaxial cable, pronounced differently (KOH-ax) in that technical use.
coax vs cox
Cox sounds the same but is the person who steers a rowing boat.
Practice
The vet slowly ___ the frightened dog out of the cage with soft words and a treat.
Choose one answer.
Coaxed fits the gentle, patient persuasion shown by soft words and a treat. Forced, ordered and dragged all describe pressure rather than gentleness.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “coax”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.