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
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
Instead, he is now being goaded into the impossible retaking of land Ukraine could not get back in the summer of 2023, during a heavily prepped counter-offensive.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
His facial expressions and reactions to Lynch’s promos and her being goaded into this WrestlePalooza mixed tag team match suggest that there are more problems to come for the powerful heel duo.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
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
Instead, he is now being goaded into the impossible retaking of land Ukraine could not get back in the summer of 2023, during a heavily prepped counter-offensive.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
His facial expressions and reactions to Lynch’s promos and her being goaded into this WrestlePalooza mixed tag team match suggest that there are more problems to come for the powerful heel duo.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goaded
Verb
-
So in August 2008, the federal government recalled the bassinets and urged families and caregivers to stop using them.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.—
Kendrick Calfee
May 7,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Once a loyal Republican and McCain campaign operative, her transformation to anti-Trump voice was spurred by personal experiences that have shaped her point of view.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
The twin financial centres of Dubai (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi (ADGM) have seen a dramatic increase in global and regional financial participation, spurred by traditional financial services, wealth management alongside racier offerings like digital assets.—
Vasuki Shastry,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 May 2026
-
Residents were encouraged to do a walk-through of their property, looking for potential damage from water or gas leaks.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Arriving officers found an unresponsive man who had significant injuries consistent with being stabbed, Becchina said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 May 2026
-
What followed, Lane claimed, was a four-hour altercation in which Wilson choked and stabbed him multiple times in the chest and hand, before throwing him through a pair of sliding glass doors.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Later, when the oldest hit her mid-teens and eventually went off to college, the two boys were nudged into leadership roles of their own and nominally put in charge of the youngest kid, a sister.—
Andre Mouchard,
Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
Hawkers hitched boxes higher and nudged each other to behold the spirited pregnant woman.—
‘Pemi Aguda,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
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
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There might never have been The Osbournes had Stern not pushed and prodded the deliciously wacky rock star family to bring their story to the airwaves.—
Malina Saval,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Many curious passersby poked their heads inside, wondering if the restaurant was serving food again.—
Iris Kwok
May 12,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Holding her breath, Ana poked her head into the coop.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
In late February, animal rights activists flew a drone over a calf ranch in the Central Valley and watched as workers kicked and punched the animals.—
Susanne Rust
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
In Rhode Island, school speech therapist Denise Champney said she’s seen children get so frustrated with the software’s animations and spoken prompts that one punched the screen of his Chromebook.—
Tyler Kingkade,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Goaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goaded. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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