1
as in kisses
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 urges
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 nudges
Selome Hailu, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Team priorities could collide as the concerned Moon in your 11th House of Aspirations nudges reckless Mars in your 5th House of Risks.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
This perspective helps explain why small changes in choice environments – nudges such as placing salad bars directly in cafeteria serving lines or listing vegetarian options first on menus – can significantly shift behavior without forcing anyone to choose differently.
—Alejandro Hortal-Sánchez, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Even though those seem to be going nowhere, nudges from the likes of Sens.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 18 Mar. 2026
Commitments may need clearer promises, especially as the Moon in your tender 8th house nudges Jupiter in your busy 2nd house.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
Everyday exchanges feel softer as romantic Venus kisses elusive Neptune in your 3rd House of Contact, which nudges you to speak from the heart.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
In effect, the system nudges seniors toward dependency rather than prevention.
—Saul Anuzis, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
Bill nudges a bottle to the center of the table.
—David Cook, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
As Benson continues asking questions about the victim, Jasmyn nudges a sign that shows her prices for autographs and pictures and says that her time is valuable.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Team priorities could collide as the concerned Moon in your 11th House of Aspirations nudges reckless Mars in your 5th House of Risks.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
This perspective helps explain why small changes in choice environments – nudges such as placing salad bars directly in cafeteria serving lines or listing vegetarian options first on menus – can significantly shift behavior without forcing anyone to choose differently.
—Alejandro Hortal-Sánchez, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Even though those seem to be going nowhere, nudges from the likes of Sens.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 18 Mar. 2026
Commitments may need clearer promises, especially as the Moon in your tender 8th house nudges Jupiter in your busy 2nd house.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
Everyday exchanges feel softer as romantic Venus kisses elusive Neptune in your 3rd House of Contact, which nudges you to speak from the heart.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
In effect, the system nudges seniors toward dependency rather than prevention.
—Saul Anuzis, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
Bill nudges a bottle to the center of the table.
—David Cook, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudges
Verb
-
His son Bret recalled his father’s postgame smiles, hugs and kisses with his wife of 58 years Debbie.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Capaldi points back and the pair begin to walk towards one another before Capaldi grabs Styles' face and kisses him.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Another recommendation urges the city to create a regional digital equity coalition that includes public agencies, community organizations and private partners.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
His mom repeatedly urges him to turn around as Gritty quietly sneaks up behind him.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In 2027 and beyond, dozens of red and blue states could set off redistricting pushes of their own.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Expect to see more marketing pushes like this as the region charts a recovery.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tokyo Stylez, Cardi’s hairstylist, brushes out a sleek brown hairpiece, and Erika la’ pearl, her makeup artist, dabs at Cardi’s face while the rapper scrolls through her phone, controlling the music.—
Jazmine Hughes,
Allure,
24 Mar. 2026
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When some chime in to say their doctors had been cautiously optimistic about treatments, Sarah brushes that aside.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Armbruster encourages drivers to compare prices between stations instead of automatically stopping at the same place every time to fill up.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
-
The equal time law encourages more speech and empowers voters to decide the outcome of elections.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Here, witches are real — and so are jerks.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Legal work that touches immigration status or physical injury can bring fear to the surface again and again.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Kansas City-area Representatives Sam Graves, who represents a swath of northern Missouri, and Mark Alford, whose district touches the metro and central Missouri, similarly both made statements about the attack.—
Jack Harvel
April 27,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These berries are often used for fresh eating, jams, and pies.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
4 May 2026
-
The songs were bangers, dance jams for the ages, but there was much more going on.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudges. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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