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COAXING
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Flattery designed to gain favor
Synonyms:
blarney; coaxing; soft soap; sweet talk
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("coaxing" is a kind of...):
flattery (excessive or insincere praise)
Derivation:
coax (influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Pleasingly persuasive or intended to persuade
Example:
her manner is quiet and ingratiatory and a little too agreeable
Synonyms:
coaxing; ingratiatory
Classified under:
Similar:
persuasive (intended or having the power to induce action or belief)
III. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb coax
Context examples:
It was still on her mind when I bade her adieu; and she said to me, in her pretty coaxing way—as if I were a doll, I used to think: Now don't get up at five o'clock, you naughty boy.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
All kinds of treatment were tried with him, coaxing, scolding, slapping, bringing him to Buckingham Street (where he instantly dashed at the two cats, to the terror of all beholders); but he never could prevail upon himself to bear my aunt's society.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
