1
as in urged
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
tried to goad me into auditioning for the play
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Recent Examples of goaded
Anthony provoked and goaded Metcalf, Wirskye said.
—
Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026
In the ensuing chaos, one of those two young men takes the stage, goaded on by his friend, and soon has the audience dancing to his melodies and words.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 22 May 2026
He was mocked and goaded by Callum Newman into attacking Shingo Takagi after Newman retained the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
The czar, goaded by his military advisors, mobilized the Russian army knowing that meant war.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Trump, though never restrained, is now pure id, acting on impulse and goaded on by advisers who see an opportunity to further expand executive power.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
Her ups and downs were a regular punch line on late-night talk shows, starting with her first appearance on The Tonight Show in 1985, when she was goaded into agreeing to lose 15 lbs.
—Eileen Finan, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
Democrats saw him as a master of dark arts, beholden to his former pals in the oil industry and a warmonger who goaded the nation to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to help his benefactors.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 20 Nov. 2025
In one instance, Holmes alleged, Lorch goaded Holmes into a storage room and told him to climb a ladder to a lofted space to retrieve some uniforms.
—Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026
In the ensuing chaos, one of those two young men takes the stage, goaded on by his friend, and soon has the audience dancing to his melodies and words.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 22 May 2026
He was mocked and goaded by Callum Newman into attacking Shingo Takagi after Newman retained the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
The czar, goaded by his military advisors, mobilized the Russian army knowing that meant war.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Trump, though never restrained, is now pure id, acting on impulse and goaded on by advisers who see an opportunity to further expand executive power.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
Her ups and downs were a regular punch line on late-night talk shows, starting with her first appearance on The Tonight Show in 1985, when she was goaded into agreeing to lose 15 lbs.
—Eileen Finan, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
Democrats saw him as a master of dark arts, beholden to his former pals in the oil industry and a warmonger who goaded the nation to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to help his benefactors.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 20 Nov. 2025
In one instance, Holmes alleged, Lorch goaded Holmes into a storage room and told him to climb a ladder to a lofted space to retrieve some uniforms.
—Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goaded
Verb
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In an attempt at shoring up the currency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month urged citizens to pause gold purchases, conserve fuel, and avoid overseas travel.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
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Advocates urged the Legislature to pass the ordinance after waiting for months and have long pushed for improved conditions inside the old facility.—
Ben Wheeler
June 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Fishermen say increasing competition has spurred a sharp rise in armed conflict, especially between fisherfolk from the Turkana and Dassanech ethnic groups.—
Tommy Trenchard,
NPR,
31 May 2026
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The conflict has wreaked havoc on global energy markets and spurred inflation to its highest level since May of 2023 after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz when the war broke out.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
Verb
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But beyond that, he’s encouraged by the fact that the young creators who’ve already had enormous success online still value the cultural currency of theatrical movies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
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The pastor encouraged his community to know that there is courage in choosing not to give up, but instead to search together for the place for them.—
HANNAH RUHOFF,
Sacbee.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Digwa stabbed him five times, causing significant internal bleeding from a chest wound, local police said in a statement.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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The report, which was published on the DHS website, also noted that the officer who stabbed the detainee with a pen was disciplined.—
Laura Strickler,
NBC news,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Steve Guttenberg To many, Steve Guttenberg will always be known as Police Academy’s Carey Mahoney, a rebellious but likable small-time crook who gets nudged into joining the force.—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 May 2026
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Amazon left its full-year spending outlook at $200 billion and Alphabet nudged up its capex 2026 guidance to $180 billion and $190 billion.—
Matthew J. Belvedere,
CNBC,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The dynamic has prodded PG&E to ramp up efforts to upgrade and expand its electrical system in the South Bay and elsewhere.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
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Ryan Yates prodded the ball to Dilane Bakwa, who in turn crossed for Taiwo Awoniyi to guide home a header and put them in front.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Even at the height of his fame, there were dubious aspects of his personal life — often self-seeded to sustain his enigma — that poked hellified holes in his impermeability as an entertainer.—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
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In the roadside planters, green sprouts poked up.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Verb
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In 2024, Ilacqua said, Perry punched one man and hit another with his cane before ordering his dog to attack both of them.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
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The woman who was punched by a former Shelby police officer walked into a local church Tuesday morning with civil rights attorney Ben Crump to applause from full pews.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Goaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goaded. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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