What does coax mean?
Word: Coax
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Coax means to get someone to do something by asking in a kind and patient way.
Synonyms: persuade
How do you spell coax?
Syllables: coax
Tricky part: The sound at the end is ks, yet a single letter writes all of it, so pupils put coaks or coacks. Nothing in the spelling looks like the sound you hear.
Watch out for: coaks, coacks
Memory tip: Box, fox and six all let x carry the ks sound on its own. Give that same job to the x here.
Coax in a sentence
Example 1: Meera managed to coax the shy kitten out from under the sofa with a saucer of milk.
Example 2: My uncle can always coax the old scooter into starting on a cold morning.
Example 3: Our teacher had to coax Aarav onto the diving board, one small step at a time.
Fun Fact
When coax appeared in the late 1500s it was slang for making a fool of someone. The gentle meaning we use now came later.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word coaxed as used in the sentence:
With songs and stories, Sunita coaxed her little brother into finishing his homework.
a) cajoled
b) warned
c) ordered
d) blamed
Show answer
a) cajoled. To cajole is to win someone over with sweet talk, which is what the songs and stories were for.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Grandmother knows how to oxac a smile out of the sleepiest baby in the family.
a) coat
b) coach
c) hoax
d) coax
Show answer
d) coax. The four jumbled letters include no h or t, which leaves one choice.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
coaxe
a) o
b) a
c) e
d) x
Show answer
c) e. The word stops at the x, so what comes after it has to go.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. coax 2. exagerate 3. persistant 4. reccomend
a) to bring a person round gently, little by little
b) refusing to give up even when things are hard
c) to make something sound bigger than it really is
d) to suggest something as good or suitable
Show answer
a) to bring a person round gently, little by little. Exaggerate has a double g, recommend a double m, and persistent ends in ent.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A nervous calf will not walk up a ramp. Which approach matches what this verb describes?
a) walking away for a full hour
b) offering feed while speaking softly
c) paying a neighbour to lift it
d) clapping loudly behind the animal
Show answer
b) offering feed while speaking softly
2. The tone of voice that goes with this action is best described as:
a) soothing
b) stern
c) shrill
d) bored
Show answer
a) soothing
