GOADED Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

goaded

verb

past tense of goad

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in spurred

to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object goading the horse forward into the stall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 goaded Garrett, the best defensive player of the post-Aaron Donald era, fittingly goaded the legend out of retirement. — Jeff Howe, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Or Pablo Picasso, goaded into radicalism by the latest bizarre creations of Matisse, retreating to the Spanish mountain village of Gósol and, mere months later, beginning work on his proto-cubist masterpiece, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026 The architect of the program’s revitalization will not be goaded into predictions or promises. — Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for goaded

Verb

Leo defended education and research amid university funding cuts, and urged scrutiny of AI and natural resource policies.

— Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026
Anyone with more information was urged to contact LAPD South Traffic Division Detective Nily at 323-421-2577.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of urged

Verb

The drop was spurred on by the energy shock triggered by the Iran war and the expansion of wind and solar power adoption globally.

— Simmone Shah, Time, 10 Nov. 2026
The insurance industry’s crash tests have spurred automakers to build safer vehicles, beyond what federal rules require.

— Jessica Fishman, STAT, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of spurred

Verb

Her aunt, a breast cancer survivor, was the first person who encouraged her to get that initial lump checked.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 6 Nov. 2026
Management identified improving full-price sales, particularly in North America, as a priority and said it was encouraged by the initial response to recent product launches.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of encouraged

Verb

Police have arrested a 27-year-old former NYPD cop and city substitute school aide for the murder of Brooklyn jogger Katie Suarez, who was stabbed to death during a run along the Brooklyn waterfront, multiple police sources said Saturday.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
Prosecutors say the teen stabbed a 16-year-old boy in the upper chest with a 4-inch kitchen knife, seriously injuring the victim.

— Jennifer McLogan, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of stabbed

Verb

Miller had to be prodded Monday morning to catch the bus back to the team hotel.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Even the process by which animals are herded onto the trucks is often highly stressful, with frightened animals pushed, prodded, pulled, and otherwise handled roughly.

— Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of prodded

Verb

Reid returned but kept grabbing at his lower back, White returned after being poked in eye.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2026
Kessler, standing nearby during Williams’ postgame news conference, poked his head out from behind a black curtain and gave his teammate a thumbs-up.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of poked

Verb

The console has already appeared at several maker events, where eager kids have punched and kicked its chunky buttons.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 11 Nov. 2026
Linebacker Nick Bolton punched the ball free from Hall, and Alohi Gilman recovered to set up a short-field touchdown.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of punched

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goad

goaded

goading

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“Goaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goaded. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of goaded

verb

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