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
With limited offseason cap space around the league, Powell might need to work with the Heat on a sign-and-trade deal if he is nudged aside or chooses to move on elsewhere.
—
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
The other man attempted to walk around the victim to get in the elevator when the victim nudged him with his laundry basket.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
The final stretch, though, was less soothing as Plourde nudged ahead to stay.
—Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
On Sunday, stops were hard to come by with Flagg scoring almost at will (14 for 27 from the field, 15 for 17 at the free-throw line), and the Lakers’ responses never nudged the needle in their favor.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
Juvenile whales gently nudged the calf and kept it close to the mother.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026
The same is true for film, where streaming apps like Netflix have nudged aside movie theaters and DVDs.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Others have a slightly more optimistic take, particularly given that gas prices have nudged past the $4/gallon psychological barrier.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
Repair shouldn’t have been impossible, and yet every step of the process nudged me toward replacement.
—Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
The other man attempted to walk around the victim to get in the elevator when the victim nudged him with his laundry basket.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
The final stretch, though, was less soothing as Plourde nudged ahead to stay.
—Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
On Sunday, stops were hard to come by with Flagg scoring almost at will (14 for 27 from the field, 15 for 17 at the free-throw line), and the Lakers’ responses never nudged the needle in their favor.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
Juvenile whales gently nudged the calf and kept it close to the mother.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026
The same is true for film, where streaming apps like Netflix have nudged aside movie theaters and DVDs.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Others have a slightly more optimistic take, particularly given that gas prices have nudged past the $4/gallon psychological barrier.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
Repair shouldn’t have been impossible, and yet every step of the process nudged me toward replacement.
—Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudged
Verb
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Served with Catalan flatbread chips ($12), redfish Galicia, a fish brushed with extra-virgin olive oil, cooked in a sauce pan with garlic butter, baked with lemon zest.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
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On Monday, Kimmel brushed off the latest dust-up.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Beyond the question of criminal referrals, the commission’s report urged DHS to restrict certain ICE and Customs and Border Protection practices, including the use of chemical agents, physical force and vehicle pursuits during civil immigration enforcement.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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People inside those areas who may need to leave during the event are urged to consider parking their cars elsewhere.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Afterward, the couple hugged and kissed again as onlookers clapped and cheered.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
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But the series isn’t bold enough to imagine Carol’s interiority or question what would happen if, say, Clark and Floyd had kissed.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Behavior that had long been tolerated, if not encouraged, would no longer be accepted.—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
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This paper editorialized in support of that petition and encouraged the state’s attorney to voluntarily step aside.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudged. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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