COAXING

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does coaxing mean? 

• COAXING (noun)
  The noun COAXING has 1 sense:

1. flattery designed to gain favor

  Familiarity information: COAXING used as a noun is very rare.

• COAXING (adjective)
  The adjective COAXING has 1 sense:

1. pleasingly persuasive or intended to persuade

  Familiarity information: COAXING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COAXING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Flattery designed to gain favor

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

blarney; coaxing; soft soap; sweet talk

Hypernyms ("coaxing" is a kind of...):

flattery (excessive or insincere praise)

Derivation:

coax (influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering)

• COAXING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pleasingly persuasive or intended to persuade

Synonyms:

coaxing; ingratiatory

Context example:

her manner is quiet and ingratiatory and a little too agreeable

Similar:

persuasive (intended or having the power to induce action or belief)

 Context examples 

Peering down into the box he snapped his fingers several times and was heard from the Press seat to say, 'Come, then, pretty, pretty!' in a coaxing voice.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And so, by dint of alternate coaxing and commanding, he contrived to get them all once more enclosed in their separate dormitories.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

She had pretty, coaxing ways, as you might say, and I thought there was no harm in letting her just put her head through the door.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I had gone up to ask him about you, and he was very offensive; accused me of coaxing you away from the service of the firm, and that sort of thing.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There were grave events afoot, as the sequel showed, and the coaxing of Scott Eccles to Wisteria Lodge had some connection with them.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“But please let me have it,” said Dora, in her coaxing way, “if you can!”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

With a sorry hack one uses whip and spur, sire, said Chandos; but with a horse of blood and spirit a good cavalier is gentle and soothing, coaxing rather than forcing.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

No coaxing, no sugar, no lullaby, no story, even the light was put out and only the red glow of the fire enlivened the 'big dark' which Demi regarded with curiosity rather than fear.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“My love!” (There never was anything so coaxing as her childish ways.) “He is the best creature!”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)