1
as in to brush
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing
accidentally nudged me as they squeezed past
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to urge
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
the car salesman nudged me into taking a test-drive, even though I had said that I was just looking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of nudge
Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Bill nudges a bottle to the center of the table.
—David Cook, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
Sherri Gordon, Health, 9 Feb. 2026
So time to give it a nudge in a better direction by brewing cups of stimulation.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Verb
Approaching the steep dropoff of the overflowing dam, the barge was instead nudged into a nearby edge of shore, where a crane lifted the booms in two-piece sections onto land.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Bill nudges a bottle to the center of the table.
—David Cook, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
But starting your day with an apple may give you a gentle nudge to get bowel movements going.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 9 Feb. 2026
So time to give it a nudge in a better direction by brewing cups of stimulation.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudge
Verb
-
The project will fully rebuild Touhy Avenue between Elmhurst and Mount Prospect roads in Elk Grove Village, unincorporated Elk Grove Township, and Des Plaines, and brushing against the northern edge of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Whisk light corn syrup with a bit of water, brush it into indents, and sprinkle on colored sugar.—
Laura Fenton,
Parents,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The cost of inaction could be substantial enough to justify urging candidates to assess their viability before the filing deadline.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Daniel Sosa owns four licensed cannabis businesses in Los Angeles and previously urged the city to take immediate action to support the industry.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Rising defense outlays have funded the expansion of fighter jets, aircraft carriers, drones and submarines amid Xi’s push to modernize the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The floor-to-ceiling glass doors that line the west-facing wall to make the most of a stunning hillside view are easily blocked from light and prying eyes by curtains at the push of a button.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That’s right, everybody’s love for lips that look freshly kissed and effortlessly sophisticated is arriving in the manicure space.—
Dominic Cadogan,
Glamour,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The sinewy champion then cradled his wife, Presleigh, in his arm and kissed her at the front of the 18th green, along the water’s edge.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
One particular point of scrutiny was a $220 million ad campaign featuring Noem that encouraged people in the country illegally to leave voluntarily.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Without comment, the president shared multiple news articles covering his previous remarks slamming Maher as a jerk.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The Lion’s Tail that tastes like if a Jamaican jerk chicken and a Whiskey Sour couldn’t keep their hands off each other.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At times, Lugo touched 95 mph while navigating the Colombia lineup.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
7 Mar. 2026
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This property actually touches the James Peak Wilderness, and that’s 17,000 acres.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudge. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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