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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
Or a family member nudges you to host for the holidays for the third year in a row. — Melody Wilding, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026 General Daily Insight for September 15, 2026 Midday nudges us to choose our priorities. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 15 Sep. 2026 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
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
  • Russian attacks have damaged or destroyed more than 500 locomotives since 2022, as Kyiv urges partners to supply rail equipment critical for evacuations, logistics and the wartime economy.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • However, moving forward, how Bird urges players like Wilson, 30, to prioritize Team USA will be interesting.
    — Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 14 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
  • Vicki brushes it off, and even Shannon can’t defend her friend’s callousness.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Fertitta brushes off the scuffle between his president and Meloni.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of brushes
Verb
  • The low prices have a trickle-down effect that leads fans to eat and drink more, and encourages them to try more of the culinary team’s offerings.
    — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Fairfield Police Department encourages residents to report any concerning coyote activity to Fairfield Animal Control at 203-254-4857.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 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
  • If the party gets a little too wild, and someone knocks the jams into the drink, don't worry.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026
  • From late May through early September, weekly music jams with fiddles and banjos celebrate the area’s musical heritage.
    — Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 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 21 Sep. 2026.

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