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
Relevance
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nudge
Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
My biggest concern around AI friends right now is safety — there are already lawsuits alleging that chatbots nudged kids toward violence or self-harm.
—Anna North, Vox, 22 May 2025
Each nudging me toward the peace and playfulness that sparked my desire to travel in the first place.
—Essence, 14 May 2025
Kim also nudged further into the political pushback against White House budget priorities.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Verb
What To Know According to a report by ABC News on Thursday, Bisignano told the Social Security brass during the meeting that the offer to become agency commissioner nudged him to play internet detective.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
My biggest concern around AI friends right now is safety — there are already lawsuits alleging that chatbots nudged kids toward violence or self-harm.
—Anna North, Vox, 22 May 2025
Each nudging me toward the peace and playfulness that sparked my desire to travel in the first place.
—Essence, 14 May 2025
Kim also nudged further into the political pushback against White House budget priorities.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudge
Verb
-
This often includes disinfecting boots and brushing off any soil or plant material.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2025
-
Our lives are assembled from hundreds of small rituals: brushing our teeth, brewing our morning coffee, or arranging our pillows just so before going to be.—
Tom Mylan,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
Trump met personally with the GOP conference that morning, urging them to stop pushing for more changes and get behind the bill.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
-
Since May 2024, Jupiter has moved through your zone of intimacy, depth, and mutual resources, urging you to be more discerning about emotional risk.—
Colin Bedell,
Them.,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
The demonstrations captured national attention and became a turning point in the push for LGBTQ civil rights.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
28 May 2025
-
Company leaders hoping for a stronger economy should not expect much benefit from the current push for manufacturing in the United States.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
After the buzzer sounded, Pope ran over to hug his wife, Lee Anne, and kissed his daughters near the bench before running off to a TV interview.—
Jesse Temple,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
-
In the video, baby Sofia can be seen giggling in her bouncer as Ree sings, plays and tickles her, as well as kissing the happy infant, who looks cute in a floral sleeper.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
There is no fee to nominate and self-nominations are encouraged.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 May 2025
-
Inner reflection is encouraged with Mercury in Gemini.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
Noun
-
As part of Gabriel’s solution to showing Ansari’s character that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the Hollywood, the well-meaning angel body-swaps him with an uber-rich jerk, played by Seth Rogen.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2025
-
The left horse just wanted to shamble along, while the right horse pulled with frantic jerks.—
Louise Erdrich,
New Yorker,
25 May 2025
Verb
-
Tesla’s Amsterdam video shows the driver’s hands underneath but not touching the car’s steering wheel.—
Carlton Reid,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
-
The ceremony, put on by the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, touched on thanking living veterans for their service, honoring the more than 8,100 veterans buried at the cemetery and remembering the war fighters who remain missing or unidentified.—
Brett Barrouquere,
Arkansas Online,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudge. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share