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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nudged
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
Since January, 139 have been fired, nudged into early retirement or involuntarily transferred — an unprecedented shakeup central to his deportation efforts.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
To manage the thousands of people who descend daily, operators have studied visitors’ behavior and engineered their parks to move people around without anyone realizing they’re being nudged.
—Bianca Bosker, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
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
Since January, 139 have been fired, nudged into early retirement or involuntarily transferred — an unprecedented shakeup central to his deportation efforts.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
To manage the thousands of people who descend daily, operators have studied visitors’ behavior and engineered their parks to move people around without anyone realizing they’re being nudged.
—Bianca Bosker, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudged
Verb
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To keep the space looking cohesive, Hudson customized her matte white CAFÉ Appliances to have brushed brass hardware as well.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Oct. 2025
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The wind from its wings brushed her skin.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Chairwoman Robyn Denholm urged shareholders to support it, warning in a letter Monday that the company risks losing significant value if the deal fails and Musk opts to step down as chief executive.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
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As the situation deteriorates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany among others have urged their nationals to leave Bamako.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In the first photo, Uchitel playfully kissed a paper cutout of Donovan.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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According to legend, the future saint once kissed the stone in prayer; ever since, the stone has been colder than the stones surrounding it.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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It was famed British actor Laurence Olivier who encouraged Hopkins to pursue mental health therapy and see a psychiatrist.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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Those who felt the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nudged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudged. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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