1
as in brushed
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 urged
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 nudged
My lightning bolt also nudged me toward self-reflection, a pillar of modern wellness.
—
Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025
Allen Gray nudged his walker a few inches forward, edging closer to a stack of blue plastic trays and his first meal of the day.
—Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Nov. 2025
While on a high school field trip to see the British literature art collection at Yale University, a teacher nudged Riccoboni to skip the literature-centric exhibit and instead pop into a nearby gallery to see Hockney’s work.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025
Would that have nudged him to the winner’s circle?
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
High financing costs, a wobbly economy, flat rents and overbuilding in certain markets nudged many other developers to cancel or delay rental projects.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
Julian and Penelope nudged me for a response in unison.
—Sofía Pereda, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
Its success nudged competitors to make their own EVs more enticing, and Tesla capitalized on its head start, continuing to develop its tech and create new cars, including 2017’s Model 3, which also made TIME’s list.
—Merrill Fabry, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Larsson has been busy reorienting PVH so that it is focused on taking full advantage of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein’s potential and recently nudged up the company’s revenue forecast.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025
Allen Gray nudged his walker a few inches forward, edging closer to a stack of blue plastic trays and his first meal of the day.
—Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Nov. 2025
While on a high school field trip to see the British literature art collection at Yale University, a teacher nudged Riccoboni to skip the literature-centric exhibit and instead pop into a nearby gallery to see Hockney’s work.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025
Would that have nudged him to the winner’s circle?
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
High financing costs, a wobbly economy, flat rents and overbuilding in certain markets nudged many other developers to cancel or delay rental projects.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
Julian and Penelope nudged me for a response in unison.
—Sofía Pereda, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
Its success nudged competitors to make their own EVs more enticing, and Tesla capitalized on its head start, continuing to develop its tech and create new cars, including 2017’s Model 3, which also made TIME’s list.
—Merrill Fabry, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Larsson has been busy reorienting PVH so that it is focused on taking full advantage of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein’s potential and recently nudged up the company’s revenue forecast.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudged
Verb
-
Low branches poked at the roof of our boat and brushed our arms.—
Idra Novey,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Enjoy me never having brushed hair again.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Fans are urged to wear white at Ford Field.—
Leah Olajide,
Freep.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
During that visit, then Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo urged Francis in unusually frank terms to take concrete action.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Celebrity makeup artist Michael Anthony accentuated her under eyes using a brightening concealer and kissed the faintest shade of pink to her outer corners next to long lash extensions that reached her brows.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
10 Nov. 2025
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A little after 6 o’clock the next morning, Matthew Vande Kolk, chief deputy of the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office, kissed his wife and daughter goodbye and stepped out of his Victorian farmhouse.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The city’s emergency overflow shelter is available to adults over 18, with capacity for dogs in kennels, but the office encouraged people who need a warm place to sleep to seek primary shelters as a first option.—
Austin Hornbostel,
Nashville Tennessean,
9 Nov. 2025
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During the end of the latter track, Lauper encouraged audience members to sing along and brought Salt-n-Pepa onstage to join in.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nudged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudged. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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