Synonym Chooser

How does the verb coax differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of coax are blandish, cajole, soft-soap, and wheedle. While all these words mean "to influence or persuade by pleasing words or actions," coax implies gentle and persistent words or actions employed to produce a desired effect.

coaxed the cat out of the tree

When could blandish be used to replace coax?

The meanings of blandish and coax largely overlap; however, blandish implies a more open desire to win a person over by effusive praise and affectionate actions.

legislators blandished with promises of support

Where would cajole be a reasonable alternative to coax?

In some situations, the words cajole and coax are roughly equivalent. However, cajole suggests the deliberate use of flattery to persuade in the face of reluctance or reasonable objections.

cajoled him into cheating on the final exam

When is it sensible to use soft-soap instead of coax?

Although the words soft-soap and coax have much in common, soft-soap refers to using smooth and somewhat insincere talk usually for personal gain.

politicians soft-soaping eligible voters

In what contexts can wheedle take the place of coax?

The words wheedle and coax are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wheedle suggests more strongly than cajole the use of seductive appeal or artful words in persuading.

hucksters wheedling her life's savings out of her

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of coax Besides the obvious—Irish, gay—they are both invested in coaxing stories out of others. Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2025 In the past few years, a few of us on the Gear Team have worked tirelessly to transform our bedrooms into the comfiest, coziest places possible to help coax ourselves into that ever-elusive restful night of sleep. Jaina Grey, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2024 Prairie-Rocca barricaded himself for about 90 minutes before the police were able to coax him out, Law & Crime reported. Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025 At the Hammer Museum, walking into a small veiled room brought you to a large glass box within which live bees build honeycomb patterns on top of sculptures that coax those patterns into works of art. Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 4 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for coax 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coax
Verb
  • The bell rings for a second time and the players get up from their seats, cajole one another and walk down the tunnel, studs clattering and adrenaline pumping.
    Stuart James, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Curators also cajole museums, galleries, artists, and private collectors around the country into loaning artworks.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Loyalty plans at chains from AMC (Stubs) to Angelika are helping to lure moviegoers.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2025
  • So far, the restaurants have been busy, Tanha said, adding that the brand’s hope is to lure locals as well as tourists.
    Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Eating and Drinking Make sure to carve out time for the gym because the property's dining venues seduce not just with food quality but also with outstanding design.
    Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
  • The Medusa logo was chosen as a symbol of captivating beauty, seducing all those who behold it.
    Mattia Dognini, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Trump’s firing of pro-labor Abruzzo and Wilcox is rumored to entice Amazon and SpaceX to challenge the constitutionality of the NLRB at the Supreme Court.
    Elaine Mallon, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Jan. 2025
  • As with many scams, the message contains a kernel of truth—enough to entice taxpayers to click.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The grubbing and wheedling correspondence of Prince Andrew and Fergie as told by Craig Brown Air Supply The Constant Gardener Spring is in the air, and AIR SUPPLY’s latest collection is ripe for the picking.
    airmail.news, airmail.news, 23 Mar. 2024
  • Muffin, the show’s resident chaos-causing cousin, has been wheedled into filming an unboxing-style video by her father, Stripe, who has once again reached for the parenting stars but landed somewhere significantly south of his goal.
    Vulture Staff, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • But platforms seem to be wooing new users not by pretending to be a one-to-one replacement of the app, but by picking one successful aspect of TikTok and promising to do better than ByteDance’s biggest U.S. property ever could.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The company hopes these software features, paired with a high-quality piece of hardware, will be enough to woo users across the continent away from the competition.
    Eric Zeman, PCMAG, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Trump refused to accept Biden's victory in the 2020 election and his animosity toward Biden culminated in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, during which mobs of angry Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol after Trump urged them to stop Congress from certifying Biden's electoral victory.
    Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
  • The Biden administration had urged Tanbreez to rebuff offers from Chinese bidders because the mine’s gallium has potential military applications.
    Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Following the show, the beauty community begged McGrath to unveil the secret behind her glass-shattering technique, which has been recreated by makeup artists time and again since then.
    India Espy-Jones, Essence, 24 Jan. 2025
  • With the movie itself proving its might across three different categories, Morris’ absence begs the question: How? —Joey Nolfi 12 of 13 SNUB: Challengers score Time to compress and repress your rage, as the Academy pulled the aux cord out from one of the best original scores of 2024.
    Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2025

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Thesaurus Entries Near coax

Cite this Entry

“Coax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coax. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

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