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coaxer

coaxer

7.4
A person who gently persuades someone with kind words
  • noun
  • /ˈkoʊksər/
translation icon : persuasor
  • With her charming personality, the coaxer managed to convince the shy puppy to come out of its shell.

Examples

  • On any legislative matter, the bishops or their representatives might testify at congressional hearings, write letters to members of Congress, or act as one of the many behind-the-scenes coaxers and cajolers on Capitol Hill.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The coaxer gently encouraged her friend to try out for the school play.

  • As a coaxer, he used kind words to persuade clients to join the club.

Synonyms

sweet talker
vscoaxer
  • Informal
3 5.6

A person who uses kind words to charm or trick people

uses gentle encouragement or flattery rather than overt argument
flatterer
vscoaxer
3 4.2

A person who gives fake praise to get someone's favor

tries to persuade by gentle encouragement as well as praise
persuader
vscoaxer
2 3.7

A person who convinces others to do or believe something

focuses specifically on gentle encouragement or flattery methods
convincer
vscoaxer
1 4.7

A person or thing that makes someone change what they think and do

relies on soft encouragement and flattery rather than arguments
schmoozer
vscoaxer
  • Informal
1 7.9

A person who talks in a friendly way to get what they want

relies on gentle encouragement or flattery rather than social networking
inducer
vscoaxer
1 8.1

A person who persuades others to do something or accept an idea

uses milder, friendly encouragement rather than general persuasion
wheedler
vscoaxer
1 8.6

A person who uses kind, sweet words to get what they want from others

is the informal label with identical meaning

How Persuasive

manipulator
  • Offensive
24 6.2
wheedler
1 8.6
coaxer
7.4
nudger
8.1
encourager
1 2.7

Surface Forms

coaxer singular
coaxers plural

Morphology

coaxer = coax (transparent) = coax + er

Productive agentive formation from the verb 'coax' with the suffix '-er' yields a person who performs the action.

Etymology

Coaxer comes from the verb coax, which has long meant 'to persuade gently'. A helpful image is someone softly pulling another person toward an idea by using kind words and small flattery. So a coaxer is someone who uses 'gentle encouragement or flattery' to get others to agree.