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
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
In the course of the conversation, his old friend goaded him into trying his hand at womenswear.
—Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
During her trial, prosecutors said Rodriguez had goaded the officers for video views.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
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
In the course of the conversation, his old friend goaded him into trying his hand at womenswear.
—Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
During her trial, prosecutors said Rodriguez had goaded the officers for video views.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goaded
Verb
-
The Police Department urged drivers in the area to take alternate routes.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Stanton opposed it, and urged the group to hold out for a universal-suffrage law, though no such amendment was forthcoming.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Robinson ended the cold streak by drilling a 3-pointer that spurred a 20-5 run by Sierra Canyon.—
Dan Rios,
Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The House Un-American Activities Committee was spurred to conduct its own hearings and investigations, adding to the overblown fears of Communist encroachment.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Slusser alleged Kress is the one who encouraged her to live in that apartment.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
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While Red States are generally supportive of immigration crackdowns, Blue States enacted sanctuary laws that encouraged undocumented migrants to concentrate in their cities despite being a clear violation of the Constitution.—
Doug McIntyre,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sanchez's 12-year-old son, Marcus Figueroa, was stabbed 25 times and feigned death in order to survive.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Ricks also stabbed Sanchez’s other son, 12-year-old Marcus Figueroa.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 12,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Much weakened, Iran might be nudged to engage in dialogue to avoid further loss in the war.—
Debidatta A. Mahapatra,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
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Many are concerned that there is insufficient understanding of how to ensure it cannot be misused by bad actors or nudged to go rogue.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The reason for excitement in this case is a group of young guys who are maturing and learning how to be consistent winners, prodded by a coach who won three Stanley Cup championships in Chicago and has demonstrated a knack for turning young teams into contenders.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Rajner has prodded lawmakers to act while also accusing DOH of illegally diverting money from ADAP without adequately notifying the public of the implications of the severe cutbacks.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But researchers who studied crocodiles at an outdoor recreation center near Cape Town appear to have poked a hole in that approach.—
Regina G. Barber,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
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Flick’s team persisted after the break, pressing high and eventually finding a third goal when Bernal poked home from a Joao Cancelo cross.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors said, on Friday, Marshall punched her 11-year-old son in the face, giving him a bloody nose, and poured dish soap down his mouth and into his ear.—
Shardaa Gray,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
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Here’s a look at the dates and sites for each conference tournament and the winners that have punched their tickets to March Madness.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Goaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goaded. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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