nudges 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of nudge
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

nudges

2 of 2

noun

plural of nudge
as in pushes

Related Words

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 nudges
Verb
Where the Cayenne’s steering is calibrated so that the road nudges the driver, Bentley’s elbows back at those perturbances. — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026 Medicare surcharges are triggered by hard income thresholds assessed on a two-year lookback, and a conversion that nudges an individual a single dollar over a bracket can raise premiums for a full year. — Dana Dunkelberger, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Sangare probably nudges playmaker Mathias Jensen out of the starting XI to line up alongside Yehor Yarmoliuk and Mikkel Damsgaard. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Everything about Anna Maria Island nudges you toward taking a deep breath and surrendering to the calm of vacation. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 28 July 2026 If a kid’s activity, date, hobby, or creative plan nudges the budget, set a clear ceiling first. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026 Cost per wear nudges you toward fewer regrets at the register and a closet that earns its keep. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026 One gallery features a towering tree with a grinning Cheshire Cat tucked among vibrant begonias and unusual foliage, while other spaces are filled with whimsical topiary creatures, fountains and playful signage that nudges guests deeper into Wonderland. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 25 June 2026 An intuitive Moon crosses your 10th House of Career while Saturn, planet of lessons, rests in your 5th House of Creativity, and their quincunx nudges you to refine spotlight plans with care. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudges
  1. kisses
  2. urges
  3. pushes
  4. brushes
  5. encourages
  6. jerks
  7. touches
  8. jams
Verb
  • Olive actually kisses professor Adam Carlsen (Tom Bateman) — who accepts her proposal to fake date.
    — Entertainment Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Trees blow in the breeze, birds chirp, and the dappled sunlight kisses our skin as six of us observe the chef and snap photos during our outdoor mayonnaise-making class.
    — Lauren David, Travel + Leisure, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of kisses
Verb
  • The draft resolution urges tech platforms to engage with UN member states and regional organizations and adopt the more accurate projection.
    — Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Because rabies can be lethal, the Lebanon Police Department urges anyone who has been bitten or scratched by a wild animal to seek medical care immediately.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of urges
Noun
  • The last time a non-quarterback won NFL MVP was Adrian Peterson in 2012, despite pushes by Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey in recent years.
    — Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Know More The new effort by Crooked Ideas is one of many pushes by progressives to elevate the creator ecosystem in the wake of the 2024 presidential election.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of pushes
Verb
  • Fertitta brushes off the scuffle between his president and Meloni.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • During a penumbral eclipse, the moon merely brushes this outer zone and often appears only subtly dimmed.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of brushes
Verb
  • The resolution also encourages teaching about the trade-offs that arise from depicting a spherical planet on a flat map.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Her state requires such instruction in public high schools and encourages age-appropriate instruction earlier.
    — Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of encourages
Noun
  • Lee and his Burning co-writer Oh Jung-mi resist what might have been the first instinct of many filmmakers by refusing to make Ye-ji and Sang-woo overly patronizing rich jerks.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The Ars OpenForum is a place for readers to ask questions, compare notes, argue (without being jerks to each other), and go down all sorts of rabbit holes.
    — Eric Bangeman, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of jerks
Verb
  • The Big Ten issued a statement two hours after the game, clarifying the process that was used and citing the rule that was enforced about when the clock stops if a player touches the ball out of bounds.
    — Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Narwal Freo 20 Edge Narwal’s flagship Flow series extends the side of the mop cylinder that touches the ground, so more is in contact with the floor at once.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of touches
Noun
  • Meghan’s As Ever lifestyle company is based in California, and sells products associated with a high-end Californian lifestyle – rosé wine, flower sprinkles and jams, as Boshoff reported.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The seller of Folgers coffee and Smucker’s jams also raised its forecast for profit over the full year.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of jams

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Cite this Entry

“Nudges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudges. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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