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
James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Midweek, the Virgo Moon (Jan 6th–8th) nudges you inward, activating your rest and reflection zone.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 4 Jan. 2026
All of this nudges scientists into a defensive posture.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Something about late November into December nudges us toward reflection.
—Joe Palaggi, Twin Cities, 25 Dec. 2025
Something about late November into December nudges us toward reflection.
—Joe Palaggi, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Too much glucose harms mitochondria—tiny energy producers within cells—and nudges them to make unstable molecules known as reactive oxygen species that disrupt the functions of different enzymes and proteins.
—Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
Here, newsletter favorite Max Cea makes the case that the declining quality of streaming services could end up being the factor that nudges audiences back towards paying for individual films in ways that benefit artists, whether that’s in theaters or on boutique services.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 16 Dec. 2025
The new research also nudges forward the ongoing debate on how weather fluctuations might have influenced the start of the Black Death, according to Mark Bailey, a professor of late medieval history at the University of East Anglia in England.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
Verb
The Murder of Laci Peterson nudges viewers to reevaluate the veracity of media narratives and draw their own conclusions.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Midweek, the Virgo Moon (Jan 6th–8th) nudges you inward, activating your rest and reflection zone.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 4 Jan. 2026
All of this nudges scientists into a defensive posture.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Something about late November into December nudges us toward reflection.
—Joe Palaggi, Twin Cities, 25 Dec. 2025
Something about late November into December nudges us toward reflection.
—Joe Palaggi, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Too much glucose harms mitochondria—tiny energy producers within cells—and nudges them to make unstable molecules known as reactive oxygen species that disrupt the functions of different enzymes and proteins.
—Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
Here, newsletter favorite Max Cea makes the case that the declining quality of streaming services could end up being the factor that nudges audiences back towards paying for individual films in ways that benefit artists, whether that’s in theaters or on boutique services.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 16 Dec. 2025
The new research also nudges forward the ongoing debate on how weather fluctuations might have influenced the start of the Black Death, according to Mark Bailey, a professor of late medieval history at the University of East Anglia in England.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudges
Verb
-
These are distinctly American, Texan to be specific, where they’re called shrimp kisses.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
One woman kisses her granddaughter for the last time; another meets hers for the first.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Delaware County District Attorney's Office urges anyone with additional information to contact Detective Leah Cesanek at 610-623-1500 or Detective Chris Karr at 610-891-4700.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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The contest urges fans to submit new flavor ideas for a chance to win $1 million.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Windy conditions will be another addition to the forecast Thursday night and Friday as gusts pick up, especially before the cold front pushes.—
Karen Carter,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Other mid-budget films and indies evaporated, despite good reviews and expensive pushes after festival acquisitions.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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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Pruning perennials at the right time encourages plants to leaf out, grow bushier, develop sturdier stems, and potentially produce more flowers.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Loudermilk says this is just one of the many ways Lions Clubs work to support their communities and encourages anyone interested in joining to reach out.—
Jessica Riley,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Instead, the Engel-Jackson family is more run-of-the-mill awful — a recognizable pack of self-serving jerks more focused on the appearance of cheer than any real kindness.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
12 Dec. 2025
-
That rich people sure can be easily manipulable jerks?—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Everything Martha Stewart touches ultimately ends up with great critical acclaim, and this serum will not be an exception.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Running backs with 300-plus touches the previous season don’t generally repeat that volume the following season.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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More than 200 producers sell seasonal fruit and vegetables, breads and cheeses of every kind, charcuterie, olives and tapenades, quiches, jams, and honey—and that's just the food section.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
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The album’s maximalist approach, combining an array of live instruments, VSTs, and samplers, sometimes coheres into true jams.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudges. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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