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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
Democrats bashing tariffs can backfire as Trump goads rivals, David Sirota argues Founder and editor in chief of The Lever David Sirota explains why President Trump’s trade war is a political trap for Democrats. The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025 Their plot thickens when Davis goads Staten into taking a swing at him. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
Guthrie, her fiancé, took to casually goading Loeb about how Twysden now spurned him, while Loeb accepted the insults with a stoic passivity, mooning over Twysden, the others felt, like a lovesick puppy. Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025 Tommy Lasorda had to goad Hershiser into becoming a bulldog. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for goad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goad
Noun
  • The result is a misaligned affordability signal that dulls incentives to adapt and crowds out private innovation.
    Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Globalization could be blamed for introducing competition from other countries with lower labor costs, putting downward pressure on manufacturing wages in the United States and creating incentives to move production abroad.
    Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In a virtual summit with President Trump on Wednesday, European leaders urged him not to make a unilateral Ukraine peace deal during his one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage on Friday.
    Jade Walker, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Ahead of his meeting with Putin, Trump met on Aug. 13 virtually with Zelenskyy and leaders of European countries who have urged Trump not to capitulate to Putin's demands during his solo meeting.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • And a woman’s viral saga about falling in love with her psychiatrist spurs an existential question about AI chatbots.
    Josh Feldman, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Musk’s acceleration is only spurring forward his competitors to build their own data centers, too—and the Trump administration is cheering them on.
    Andrew R. Chow, Time, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Advertisement In New York, part of the impetus for this bail reform was the story of Kalief Browder, a young man in the Bronx who was arrested at age 16 for allegedly stealing a backpack.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 12 Aug. 2025
  • When decisions are made by any medical organization with financial interests, the primary impetus of the Oath is lost; the AMA’s control over payment schedules reinforces and exemplifies a corrupt institutional flaw.
    David Marks, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The Terminator 2: Judgement Day star also shared encouraging words for others who might be struggling with their own mental health.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Those ordinary demands may encourage AI use even more.
    Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Promes has lodged an appeal against his conviction and is fighting an additional 18-month sentence, imposed in 2023, for stabbing his cousin.
    Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Andrew James McGann, a 28-year-old elementary school teacher, was arrested last month, accused of stabbing Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, to death and charged with two counts of capital murder.
    Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Players drew encouragement from effectiveness at the goal line, where Rodgers and company scored on Tampa’s first unit on two of three attempts.
    Mike Jones, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
  • All the while, your helpful, entertaining partner makes sure you never get lost and offers plenty of encouragement.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Overall apparel prices nudged up just 0.1% in July after rising 0.4% in June.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025
  • The National Hurricane Center’s Tuesday mid-morning forecast cone nudged the forecast track slightly south, a trend that forecasters say could continue.
    Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Goad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goad. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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