1
2
as in to urge
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
a public outcry eventually prodded the politicians into action
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in stimulus
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of prod
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
They were pinched, prodded, cut, shocked, pierced with needles, struck with canes, and burned with acid.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
In an entry hall, kites overhead, frozen mid-swoop, are by Yinka Shonibare, a Nigerian Brit who works in batik as a prod at colonialism.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prod
Verb
Rajner has prodded lawmakers to act while also accusing DOH of illegally diverting money from ADAP without adequately notifying the public of the implications of the severe cutbacks.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
They were pinched, prodded, cut, shocked, pierced with needles, struck with canes, and burned with acid.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
In response to my prod, the bot merely teeters.
—James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
In an entry hall, kites overhead, frozen mid-swoop, are by Yinka Shonibare, a Nigerian Brit who works in batik as a prod at colonialism.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prod
Verb
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The nurturing Moon pokes Mars today, drawing attention to your 2nd House of Objects and your 11th House of Groups.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
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Leah pokes her head out around his legs, her eyes wild with excitement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Energage urges employers to use employee survey results, comments, and other feedback to identify gaps in learning opportunities and to improve existing programs.—
Bob Helbig,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
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Facing a looming deadline, Amazon is urging a federal regulator to grant an extension for its Starlink competitor, Leo, arguing that only SpaceX opposes the proposal.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Wang, however, projects each of these choice from deep within, crafting a character who’s both uncomfortable with his reactions to people, emotions and external stimuli, but is, at this point in his life, also unfortunately used to his discomforts, and begrudgingly accepts them.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
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In 2022, the economy was still rebounding strongly from COVID, with the vestiges of a big fiscal stimulus at its back.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For starters, slow running stimulates your body to make more mitochondria–the little organelles in your cells that create the energy that fuels your movements–and also spurs your existing mitochondria to grow bigger, Hamilton says.—
Jenny McCoy,
SELF,
20 Mar. 2026
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The temperatures expected from the heat dome will be high enough to spur melting, said Brian Domonkos, a hydrologist with the Colorado office of the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Rollicking Japanese City Pop era tunes from the ‘80s and ‘90s keep energy levels up; on Sundays, off-duty geiko or maiko may be sitting at a cozy banquette nearby—they’re given a discount to encourage a local patronage, too.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
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Looking ahead, the town is also encouraging residents to reduce water use long term by replacing traditional turf grass with more drought-resistant landscaping.—
Jamie Leary,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In our modern world many people experience constant stimulation.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
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The over-the-top excess twinned with control may seem appealing in a world where smartphones offer a mindless, constant and banal source of stimulation.—
Jennifer Pollitt,
The Conversation,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Muhammad later returned to the restaurant with a knife and mask and allegedly stabbed Harris, according to police.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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Officers arrived and found the stabbing victim, later identified as Freas.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In some cases, the compression worked in the festival’s favor, nudging people to leave overcrowded screenings and redirect their attention to other corners of the event.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
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Even before Israel’s killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, nudged Hezbollah into action, the ceasefire appeared to be on the brink of collapse.—
Asher Kaufman,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prod. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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