Synonyms of goads

goads 1 of 2

noun

plural of goad

as in incentives

something that arouses action or activity

the threat of skin cancer—not to mention the prospect of wrinkles—should be sufficient goad for using sunscreen

Synonyms & Similar Words

• incentives
• encouragements
• impetuses
• motivations
• spurs
• stimuli
• impulses
• provocations
• stimulants
• catalysts
• fuels
• boosts
• incitements
• instigations
• reasons
• yeasts
• momenta
• shots in the arm
• inducements
• causes
• incitations
• motives
• invitations
• considerations
• sparks
• grounds
• antecedents
• occasions
• catalyzers

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disincentives
• counterincentives

goads

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of goad

1

as in urges

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

• urges
• encourages
• nudges
• prompts
• exhorts
• prods
• spurs
• coaxes
• pushes
• eggs (on)
• propels
• stimulates
• presses
• provokes
• implores
• cajoles
• drives
• beseeches
• hurries
• rushes
• importunes
• adjures
• wheedles
• pressures
• incites
• hustles
• nags
• foments
• instigates
• stirs (up)
• high-pressures
• needles
• blandishes
• soft-soaps

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discourages
• deters
• brakes
• dissuades
• inhibits
• restrains
• curbs
• constrains
• checks
• holds back

2

as in stabs

to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object

goading the horse forward into the stall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stabs
• spurs
• pokes
• prods
• digs
• punches
• nudges
• knocks
• jabs
• propels
• pricks
• sticks
• jogs
• drives
• pierces
• bores
• perforates
• drills
• punctures
• chucks
• hales

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of goads

Noun

To Robin Wright’s multimillionaire gallery owner Laura, her son’s new girlfriend is a sleazy opportunist, a gold digger who lies about her academic and professional credentials and goads Laura by going down on Daniel (Laurie Davidson) in Laura’s house with the door open. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025

Verb

When the two wind up at a random Easter brunch, Winfried goads Ines into karaoke. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026

The protagonist then goads him into drinking enough to agree to spending the afternoon at her lake house. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 5 Mar. 2026

Using her charm offensive, Hedda goads naive spouses to cheat, recovering alcoholics to drink and depressives to wander off into the darkness with a revolver. — Amy Nicholson, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025

Dawn goads Joe about Ted, suggesting that Joe’s late father, who was also sheriff, would have taken action. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025

Reynolds goads Miller by sending a photo of himself getting cozy with Sophia, and in a moment both lurid and laughable, the prisoner visualizes the two of them getting naked and going at it right outside the cell. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019