coax
/koʊks/ verb C2- To wheedle or persuade (a person, organisation, animal etc.) gradually or by use of flattery to do something. · He coaxed the horse gently into the trailer.
- To carefully manipulate (someone or something) into a particular desired state, situation or position. · They coaxed the rope through the pipe.· I've finally coaxed the sticky drawers open.
He/she/it coaxes · Past coaxed · Past participle coaxed · -ing form coaxing
Verb forms
- Base form
- coax
- He/she/it
- coaxes
- Past
- coaxed
- Past participle
- coaxed
- -ing form
- coaxing
From the library
“Poor little thing!” said Alice, in a coaxing tone, and she tried hard to whistle to it; but she was terribly frightened all the time at the thought that it might be hungry, in which case it would be very likely to eat her up in spite of all her coaxing.
I had ever such a time coaxing her to let me come down and say good-bye to you.
She talked to Elizabeth again and again; coaxed and threatened her by turns.
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