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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nudge
Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 10 Feb. 2026
Shared decision-making tools that present options in balanced, comprehensible formats can support informed choice without nudging patients toward any particular decision.
—Jared Rhoads, STAT, 10 Feb. 2026
Renae Gregoire, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
But if your income was already too high to qualify, this bump is more of a nudge than a game changer.
—Steve Hruby, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Verb
The former is a ring on the bottom of the rock that skids across the ice, and the latter is a band around the sides of the rock that collides with other rocks (ideally knocking an opponent’s rock off the bull’s-eye or nudging your team’s closer to it).
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 10 Feb. 2026
Shared decision-making tools that present options in balanced, comprehensible formats can support informed choice without nudging patients toward any particular decision.
—Jared Rhoads, STAT, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
Every notification is a nudge toward clarity.
—Renae Gregoire, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
But if your income was already too high to qualify, this bump is more of a nudge than a game changer.
—Steve Hruby, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudge
Verb
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When Walmart and Target report holiday earnings this quarter, investors may quickly brush off those results.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
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Instead the biscuits made from the mix were plain; my favorite part was the garlic and parsley butter brushed on top.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Sierra Avalanche Center reports high avalanche risk through at least this morning, urging people to avoid travel in or below avalanche terrain.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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The Pima County sheriff took the unusual step of publicly clearing the family as suspects, urging the public to show compassion toward the victims.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The visit and the push for Congress to take up sanctions on Russia come at a crucial moment in the conflict.—
STEPHEN GROVES THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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Industrial push The race to perfect robots and automate is part of Beijing’s sweeping push to upgrade the country’s manufacturing capabilities and defend its position as the world’s factory floor in a new era of high tech, rising labor costs and a shrinking workforce.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Those who kissed under the arch were destined for eternal love, according to local legend.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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Hawke and Hutson’s romance dates back to 2023, when they were spotted kissing in New York City.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Your 7th House of Partnership steadies as boundary-setting Saturn arrives, encouraging clear agreements across your closest bonds so your diplomatic style can bring fairness without overgiving.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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The evening was more about the vibe; Gelman encourages all guests to dress up in fancy cocktail attire.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Tony's Jamaican Food Curry goat, oxtail and jerk chicken are a few of the traditional Jamaican specialties served at this friendly Pflugerville restaurant and East Austin food truck.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
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Smarmy jerks can get obscenely wealthy in this country just by managing other people’s money.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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To show their enduring affection, mated pairs of vultures synchronize their flight patterns, touch their beaks together in what looks like a kiss and entwine their long necks.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
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These segments often touch industries including healthcare, automotive, aerospace, data centers, and the premium end of e-commerce.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudge. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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