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goad

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun goad contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of goad are impulse, incentive, inducement, motive, and spur. While all these words mean "a stimulus to action," goad suggests a motive that keeps one going against one's will or desire.

thought insecurity a goad to worker efficiency

In what contexts can impulse take the place of goad?

The synonyms impulse and goad are sometimes interchangeable, but impulse suggests a driving power arising from personal temperament or constitution.

buying on impulse

When can incentive be used instead of goad?

While the synonyms incentive and goad are close in meaning, incentive applies to an external influence (such as an expected reward) inciting to action.

a bonus was offered as an incentive

When is it sensible to use inducement instead of goad?

While in some cases nearly identical to goad, inducement suggests a motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another.

offered a watch as an inducement to subscribe

Where would motive be a reasonable alternative to goad?

The words motive and goad can be used in similar contexts, but motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act.

a motive for the crime

When might spur be a better fit than goad?

The meanings of spur and goad largely overlap; however, spur applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy or ardor.

fear was a spur to action

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of goad
Noun
As a goad to European diplomacy, talk of arming Ukraine turned out not to be a bad idea. Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 2015 Over the decades, the diary would serve as both a goad to and a document of the kind of endless, restless self-searching that was the template of many people’s lives in her generation. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024
Verb
After Etsuko shares that the stress of the move has been instigating some nightmares, Niki goads her mother into telling her some stories of life in Nagasaki. Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025 As the President continues to goad a global meltdown unseen in decades, Speaker Johnson is trying to keep the MAGA meltdown away from his fellow House Republicans. Philip Elliott, Time, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for goad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goad
Noun
  • While American pharmaceutical development exhibits signs of institutional sclerosis, China’s system demonstrates the power of aligned incentives, streamlined processes, and strategic coordination between regulatory bodies, research institutions, and industry players.
    Greg Licholai MD, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • This prompted the lawmaker to question why someone would want to run away from these incentives and avoid detection.
    Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Heavy rain prompts traffic advisory on North 94th Street in Kansas City Drivers urged to exercise caution as heavy rain prompts traffic warning between I-70 West and State Avenue on North 94th Street.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
  • On Thursday, more than a half-dozen leaders representing Thai, Japanese and South Asian communities held a news conference in Little Tokyo urging community members to stand together and denounce the federal action as an overreach.
    Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • While the protests have long been arranged, they’ve been largely spurred on by Trump’s actions regarding the L.A. protests, which have since spread to other cities across the U.S.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 14 June 2025
  • Tracy’s motivation to organize the Miami Beach rally was spurred by the administration’s cutbacks to governmental agencies that monitor health and the environment.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 14 June 2025
Noun
  • However, America will be far better off when the impetus to adopt healthier habits falls on individuals and families, rather than Uncle Sam.
    Christina Smith, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2025
  • While Otis continued pitching for the next couple of years, helping lead Columbine to the Class 5A title as a junior, the impetus for her switch to full-time outfielder came a few weeks before the start of her senior season.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • State lawmakers created the program in 2017 to encourage more publicly funded, privately run schools to open in areas where traditional public schools had been failing for years, giving students and families in those neighborhoods a way to bail out of a persistently struggling school.
    Kate Payne, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025
  • Outrage from the Sikh community, as well as a social media push calling for hate crime charges, encouraged prosecutors to take another look at the case, officials said.
    Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Early morning stabbing in Downtown Pittsburgh sends one person to hospital Food & Drink Product Recall Walmart Kroger Mary Cunningham Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch.
    Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 18 June 2025
  • The victim appeared to have been stabbed in his cheek.
    Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • For 16 years, the book quietly traveled in Sofia’s backpack, a secret project that blossomed into a treasure trove of encouragement and heartfelt memories.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 18 June 2025
  • Rather than targeted, cautiously executed uses, many throw generative AI at any task imaginable, with Big Tech’s encouragement.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • The president initially appeared to favor a delay in any attack to give diplomatic efforts more time, nudging Iran to come to the table to discuss curtailing its nuclear program.
    Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 22 June 2025
  • Most sectors are lower, though telecoms nudged slightly higher, with Vodafone up 1% after announcing Pilar López would join the company from Microsoft as its chief financial officer from October.
    Ganesh Rao,Jenni Reid,Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 19 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Goad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goad. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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