1
as in urging
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
2
as in poking
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
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Recent Examples of goading
Agents made several arrests in supermarket parking lots and tamale stands while goading angry residents who confronted them and threatening to unleash tear gas.
—
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The mind thrills to imagine a genderless prophet among the brocades and buckskin breeches of Revolutionary America, weirding out the normies, sticking a flower in the barrel of a musket, and goading the new nation to let its hair down—literally.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Anthropic’s Claude wanted to know whether my headache was tension-related, due to sinus pressure, or something else entirely—hardly a goading question.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The mind thrills to imagine a genderless prophet among the brocades and buckskin breeches of Revolutionary America, weirding out the normies, sticking a flower in the barrel of a musket, and goading the new nation to let its hair down—literally.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Anthropic’s Claude wanted to know whether my headache was tension-related, due to sinus pressure, or something else entirely—hardly a goading question.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goading
Verb
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Crime Stoppers is urging the public not to approach the suspect, who should be considered armed and dangerous.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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Economic risk from China dispute Japan's Internal Affairs Ministry issued a statement on Saturday urging regional election committees to start preparing in case of an early election.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The former child actor dove into his speech by first poking fun at his Home Alone fame.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
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In June 2021, Megan posted a birthday tribute to Stellan, poking fun at his lack of an Instagram account in the caption.—
Kelsey Lentz,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety is also encouraging impacted customers to contact them by submitting a complaint online or calling 303-866-4967.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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Known for encouraging collaboration in a competitive industry, Brotherton was widely regarded as someone who championed other cooks as much as his own success.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Late last year, the leader of Tesla and the world’s richest person, Elon Musk, secured a $1 trillion pay package at his EV company, spurring criticism of the growing wealth divide between the world’s wealthiest and poorest workers.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
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Across the region, heavy-handed American tactics will risk spurring backlash and unintended consequences.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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With charming Venus in your subtle 12th house nudging lucky Jupiter in your dutiful 6th house, your time will be best spent in quiet, practical actions.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
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With food inflation nudging menu prices higher, and GLP-1s transforming eating habits, a pizzeria’s true takeout rival may no longer be the other Tony’s across the street, but rather the nutrient-rich bowl slop from Uber Eats.—
Molly Liebergall,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The moment in 1997 when the esoteric holiday left the closed confines of the television writer’s memories of an atypical adolescence and slipped into the world via Hollywood producers took place as he was cornered in a booth with his colleagues prodding him to spill the beans.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Dec. 2025
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Near the end of the October hearing, with prodding from the judge, Bruno sounded ready to accept the university’s settlement offer and move on with his life.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Later that month, another jury said Rafael Andres should be sent back to Florida’s Death Row for beating, stabbing and strangling a La Carreta waitress with a rice cooker cord in 2005.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
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Cincinnati crime fell under the microscope after the viral brawl in July and the stabbing death of an Over-the-Rhine resident and business owner in his own home.—
Scott Wartman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The University of Miami defeated Ole Miss, 31-27, in a Fiesta Bowl semifinal thriller, punching its ticket to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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That footage showed Jones elbowing, stomping and punching the boy, and prompted the police investigation.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Goading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goading. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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