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
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
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
That differential, while still high, at least nudges the concept out of the instantly dismissible category.
—Glenn Zorpette, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2026
Any tariff shift moves shipping volumes, squeezes supply chains, and eventually nudges consumer prices — but those ripples take time to reach shelves and paychecks.
—James Ward, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
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
That differential, while still high, at least nudges the concept out of the instantly dismissible category.
—Glenn Zorpette, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2026
Any tariff shift moves shipping volumes, squeezes supply chains, and eventually nudges consumer prices — but those ripples take time to reach shelves and paychecks.
—James Ward, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudges
Verb
-
The neighborhood/area The resort kisses the outskirts of what’s considered Boca Raton’s downtown.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
-
As Josh is being arrested, Lindsay hops over the police barrier and passionately kisses him goodbye.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Cher’s filing urges the court to appoint a temporary conservator to take control of Allman’s trust, his sole source of income.—
Meriam Bouarrouj,
NBC news,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The resolution urges the Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority (YCUA) to plan and complete several environmental and water system studies before committing to serve data centers or large computing facilities.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Living to 90 pushes that gap to approximately $137,280, according to RetirePro.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
-
There are ongoing pushes to relax these restrictions.—
Lucy Xiaolu Wang,
The Conversation,
13 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
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The council also encourages Gary leadership to participate in any IURC proceedings and asks for the Indiana General Assembly to biannually review utility delivery charge actions and pursue reforms.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Channeling Abbie Hoffman, Tolentino encourages people to steal from her own employer, The New Yorker, but does not explain which high crimes David Remnick has committed to earn this comeuppance.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In the new sequel, Grace teams with her estranged younger sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), as they’re hunted by four elite families full of murderous jerks scrambling to become the High Seat of a Council that controls the world.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The video also touches on the online betting markets for youth sports.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
-
That touches on consumer protection.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pitchers on both sides worked out of jams.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Eat the figs fresh or turn them into jams or jellies to enjoy year-round.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudges. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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