coax (B2)
verb
Pronunciation: /koʊks/
Definition
To gently and persistently persuade someone to do something or to get something out of them, often through flattery or kind words.
Examples
She had to coax her little brother into eating his vegetables by promising him dessert.
The mechanic tried to coax the old engine to start with a few gentle taps.
It took a lot of effort to coax the truth out of the reluctant witness.
How to Use coax
- coax (someone) into (doing something) (phrasal verb)
- To persuade someone gently to do an action. — "They had to coax the dog into the bath."
- coax (something) out of (someone) (phrasal verb)
- To get information or an object from someone through gentle persuasion. — "It was difficult to coax the secret out of him."
- coax (something) from (somewhere) (phrasal verb)
- To gently remove or extract something from a place. — "She carefully coaxed the splinter from his finger."
Synonyms of coax
Words with a similar meaning to coax:
Antonyms of coax
Words with the opposite meaning to coax:
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