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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
Joe Wilkins Published Mar 12, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026
Instead, the White House appears to be prodding Iranian reformers to step forward to put their nation on a more sustainable course.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 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
Some sob when prodded by a fork, others are straight up devoured.
—Joe Wilkins Published Mar 12, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026
Instead, the White House appears to be prodding Iranian reformers to step forward to put their nation on a more sustainable course.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 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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And time is running out before teams begin poking and prodding at the puzzle, trying to find ways to break it apart.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Finding shooters in the corner, using Oldacre and Cunningham or the open person can be a way for Texas to poke holes in Michigan's defense.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In a statement, the Stop Aurora Pit Bull Ban Team, a group that advocated for repealing the city's breed-specific ban, urged caution in drawing conclusions about the incident.—
Tori Mason,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Millions of citizens across Europe have been urged to work from home and drive less amid the energy crisis caused by the Iran war.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But there are a number of reasons to file tax returns even when they’re not strictly required, including claiming tax credits, getting back income tax withheld from paychecks or retirement accounts, and getting access to any future government stimulus payments that might be offered.—
Liz Weston,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Unlike conventional systems that are often heavy and mechanically complex, this lightweight material responds to external stimuli such as heat.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The effort to spur housing development sells lots for $1 each in batches to developers who can get up to $150,000 in construction assistance.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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The growth of prediction markets, which are also capable of producing valuable real-world intelligence, has been spurred by recent court rulings, but also by support from the White House, which generally favors deregulation in all sorts of financial markets.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And there were a number of terrorist organizations that sought to encourage the British to leave, thus creating a united Ireland.—
Colm Tóibín,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Teammates encouraged her and one even lifted her chin, but the damage was done.—
David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Others were tested for use in appetite suppression or stimulation, wound repair, sleep regulation, anti-aging and immunity support, among other purposes.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Rewarding good behavior and enriching the feline’s environment with play and stimulation can reduce curtain climbing.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The teen was involved in an argument when his adversary stabbed him multiple times with a knife, said police.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Police allege the suspect then recklessly stabbed backward numerous times, striking the victim in the leg, according to Jaques.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The same is true for film, where streaming apps like Netflix have nudged aside movie theaters and DVDs.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
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Others have a slightly more optimistic take, particularly given that gas prices have nudged past the $4/gallon psychological barrier.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prod. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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