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
David Sims, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025
This card is also a nudge to integrate your many interests into one central goal or mission.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
Julian and Penelope nudged me for a response in unison.
—Sofía Pereda, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Verb
This direction—padding the ensemble with social-media-friendly faces—represents more of a nudge toward the future than a massive overhaul.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025
This card is also a nudge to integrate your many interests into one central goal or mission.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
Jeanroy squats down, nudges Taïga aside, and starts digging with a cavadou—a sort of pick that resembles a very scary dental tool.
—Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
Julian and Penelope nudged me for a response in unison.
—Sofía Pereda, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudge
Verb
-
Some models wore wigs, but others—like Grace Elizabeth—had their hair curled with a ultra-thin curling iron and brushed out.—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Use a cleaning toothbrush to brush away limescale and hard water residue from the drain area once per week.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Porat closed by urging leaders to really dig in and reimagine what’s possible in their own organizations.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Anyone with information regarding this incident was urged to contact the Chandler Police Department at 480-782-4130.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That started with the volleyball spike of a 7-foot-1 player’s hook shot and continued to the tallest player in the league calmly breaking into a left-handed push dribble, coming under control and then hitting a complex six-dribble sequence and stepback 3-pointer plus the foul.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Vernengo said the reclassification of drug dealers as terrorists has led many in the region to assume that there is a push for a possible invasion of Venezuela, whose neighbors have no choice but to have a relationship with the United States.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The pair were photographed holding hands in June, and sparked romance rumors after posting videos of them kissing on TikTok.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Initially, attention falls on Sutton’s ex-boyfriend Billy, especially after Joel learns that Billy kissed Jenna, his sister, on the night of Sutton’s death to provoke jealousy.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ultimately, the moment encouraged the Soviet population to agitate for household comforts.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Building a bat house can encourage them to stick around a little longer and eat up all those pesky insects.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For Caribbean cuisine, stop by The Jerk Shack, where Chef Nicola Blaque channels a decade of Army discipline into flavorful jerk chicken and oxtail plates.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Gave the two jerks her very best.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As already touched on in the Introduction, Art Forms in Nature almost immediately impacted the visual culture of the early twentieth century.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Through it all, Max was there, calling her name and gently touching her arm.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudge. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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