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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nudges
Thania Garcia, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Her leg nudges mine, the hem of her overalls inching up her thighs.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
What Wheeler ultimately crafted nudges its way somewhere between the rooftop tent and camper markets.
—New Atlas, 28 Oct. 2025
Jeanroy squats down, nudges Taïga aside, and starts digging with a cavadou—a sort of pick that resembles a very scary dental tool.
—Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
His arrival stirs faint whispers under the Song statues and quietly nudges Hongmei’s buried past toward the surface.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
One nudges the instructor, who is talking to a walk-in at the front desk.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Loneliness is the healthy emotion that nudges us to get off the couch and go be with people.
—Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Starbucks, for example, nudges users toward loading funds onto a digital gift card by offering more rewards.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
Far from contemporary pop, each note and lyric demands your full attention; the reward is transcendence, even as the material nudges you to annotate like a philosophy student with a highlighter in hand.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Her leg nudges mine, the hem of her overalls inching up her thighs.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
What Wheeler ultimately crafted nudges its way somewhere between the rooftop tent and camper markets.
—New Atlas, 28 Oct. 2025
Jeanroy squats down, nudges Taïga aside, and starts digging with a cavadou—a sort of pick that resembles a very scary dental tool.
—Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
His arrival stirs faint whispers under the Song statues and quietly nudges Hongmei’s buried past toward the surface.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
One nudges the instructor, who is talking to a walk-in at the front desk.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Loneliness is the healthy emotion that nudges us to get off the couch and go be with people.
—Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Starbucks, for example, nudges users toward loading funds onto a digital gift card by offering more rewards.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudges
Verb
-
In between snuggles and breathless puppy kisses, guests learn to harness the dogs and drive sleds.—
Susan B. Barnes,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
At Colin’s wake, among bottles aging in the dark, Marissa kisses Peter.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Having overlooked many of her own symptoms, Farrington urges people to listen to their body and recognize when something doesn’t seem right.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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The ad urges members and supporters to join the NRA’s bid to fight back in the congressional midterm elections, where it is expected that Democrats will make a national push for an assault weapons ban like the one former President Bill Clinton instituted in 1994.—
Paul Bedard,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
One of the organization’s main pushes is to add exemptions to the California Environmental Quality Act for housing complexes.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
2 Nov. 2025
-
But in Congress, there have been pushes to keep SNAP funded.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If the doctor brushes you off or looks at their watch, get a new doctor!—
Kat McGowan,
NPR,
18 Oct. 2025
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Continue reading … NO LAUGHING MATTER – White House brushes off SNL season premiere, calling show 'waste' of time.—
,
FOXNews.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Besides the gleaming blue hull, the 60-footer has an open layout that encourages sociability while promoting privacy in areas like the sunbed at the stern or foredeck lounge.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
7 Nov. 2025
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Each troll has a name and a story that encourages nature exploration and ultimately finding ways to protect the earth.—
Khadejeh Nikouyeh,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Gave the two jerks her very best.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Because even in a world of monsters, ghouls, and greedy jerks, the good guys still prevail.—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lyon’s magnetism touches the entire cast, but her bits with both Killam’s Boone and Chenoweth’s Tammy really leap off the screen.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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And none of that touches the benefits that could accrue to other people outfitted with BCI chips, who could then communicate and interact with AI systems.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Examples include The Dutch Kettle of Hamptonville, which makes fruit jams, jellies and barbecue sauce.—
Chase Jordan
November 5,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The berries, which birds also love, can be eaten fresh or made into jams and jellies.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nudges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudges. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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