Coaxing: meaning, definitions and examples

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coaxing

 

[ ˈkoʊksɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

persuading gently

Coaxing refers to the act of gently persuading someone to do something. This is often done with a soft tone or with careful reasoning rather than force. The goal of coaxing is typically to make the other person feel comfortable or willing to cooperate. It can be used in various contexts, such as coaxing a child to eat their vegetables or encouraging a hesitant friend to join an activity. The effectiveness of coaxing often relies on the relationship between the individuals involved and the approach taken by the person doing the coaxing.

Synonyms

encourage, entice, persuade, sway

Examples of usage

  • She was coaxing her cat to come out from under the bed.
  • He coaxed his friend into trying the new restaurant.
  • The teacher was coaxing the shy student to participate in the discussion.

Translations

Translations of the word "coaxing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 persuasão

🇮🇳 ललचाना

🇩🇪 Überredung

🇮🇩 menggoda

🇺🇦 вмовляння

🇵🇱 namawianie

🇯🇵 なだめること

🇫🇷 persuasion

🇪🇸 persuasión

🇹🇷 ikna etme

🇰🇷 달래기

🇸🇦 إغراء

🇨🇿 přesvědčování

🇸🇰 presviedčanie

🇨🇳 劝诱

🇸🇮 prepričevanje

🇮🇸 hvetja

🇰🇿 жылыту

🇬🇪 შეუმჩნევა

🇦🇿 razı salma

🇲🇽 persuasión

Word origin

The word 'coax' originates from the early 17th century, derived from the obsolete word 'coaxen' which means to 'manipulate' or 'cajole.' It entered the English language through the alteration of 'cajole,' which is used to imply gentle persuasion or flattery. The roots can be traced back to a combination of influences, including the Middle English term ‘coaxen,’ which was likely influenced by the Latin ‘cajolare,’ meaning 'to chatter' or 'to beg.' Over the centuries, coaxing has shifted in usage to encompass the broader sense of gently coaxing someone into action or agreement. This reflects a cultural inclination towards kindness and gentle persuasion in social interactions.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,903, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.