😊 Gentle persuasion 😊 Gently persuasive

coaxing

4.8

Tending to persuade someone gently with friendly words or actions

adjective
/ˈkoʊksɪŋ/

: persuasivo

With a coaxing smile, she encouraged the child to try the vegetables.

Examples

She used a coaxing tone to calm the frightened child.
His coaxing tone made it hard to refuse his request.
She used a coaxing manner to convince her parents to let her stay out late.
His coaxing words made her feel more comfortable.
With a coaxing smile, she encouraged the child to try the vegetables.
She used a coaxing manner to convince her parents to let her stay out late.
His coaxing tone made it hard to refuse his request.

Synonyms

ingratiatory

vscoaxing

9.6

Trying to please someone to get their approval, often not sincere

is gentler, focusing on pleasant persuasion rather than seeking favor

Antonyms

forceful

62 4.3

Showing strong power and clear confidence in speech or actions

coercive

Offensive

26 7.6

Using force or threats to make someone do something

How Persuasive

compelling

298 5.1

persuasive

99 3.9

coaxing

4.8

soft

205 2.0

unconvincing

11 5.1

Surface Forms

coaxing positive

Morphology

coaxing = coax (transparent) = coax + ing

The adjective is the participial form of the verb 'coax' using the regular '-ing' suffix; its meaning straightforwardly relates to the verb.

Etymology

Coaxing comes from the verb coax, which in the 1700s meant 'to flatter or wheedle'. Think of the soft sound coo when someone speaks kindly; that's why a coaxing tone or manner tries to persuade someone gently.