Synonyms of nudging

nudging

verb

present participle of nudge

1

as in brushing

to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing

accidentally nudged me as they squeezed past

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brushing
• kissing
• touching
• caressing
• shaving
• skimming
• grazing
• stroking
• scraping
• bumping
• patting
• missing
• contacting
• sweeping
• skipping
• glancing
• striking
• swiping
• petting
• bouncing
• cuddling
• loving
• fondling
• ricocheting
• caroming
• sideswiping
• rebounding
• skirting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hitting
• knocking
• bumping
• slapping
• smacking
• slamming
• punching
• banging
• impinging
• impacting
• crashing
• smashing
• colliding
• whacking
• clashing
• swiping
• thudding
• bashing
• ramming
• thwacking

2

as in urging

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

• urging
• encouraging
• prodding
• prompting
• pushing
• coaxing
• spurring
• goading
• exhorting
• propelling
• pressing
• egging (on)
• driving
• stimulating
• imploring
• hurrying
• cajoling
• provoking
• beseeching
• pressuring
• rushing
• hustling
• importuning
• wheedling
• nagging
• fomenting
• inciting
• instigating
• stirring (up)
• needling
• adjuring
• blandishing
• soft-soaping
• high-pressuring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discouraging
• deterring
• checking
• restraining
• dissuading
• curbing
• braking
• constraining
• inhibiting
• holding back

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of nudging

On Thursday, July 30, Miami also soared to 96, nudging out a 95-degree hot weather record set in 2015. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

The work consisted of small decisions made in rapid succession, each one nudging the encyclopedia closer to order. — Carson Griffith, New Yorker, 30 July 2026

In some tit for tat, SpaceX is subtly nudging the Federal Communications Commission to penalize rival satellite internet provider Eutelsat OneWeb after the EU adopted rules to preserve satellite spectrum for European companies. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 29 July 2026

The Mancunian likes to lurk at the back post and is clever at nudging defenders to put them off-balance. — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Instead of nudging people towards Zionism, such coalitions are pulling progressive politicians more towards the pro-Palestine camp with each special election. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026

The Moon conjoins surprising Uranus in your 4th House of Home and Family, nudging rhythm changes and fresh feelings around your private world. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2026

Your 3rd House of Communication awakens as the intuitive Moon moves in, sharpening timing and nudging you to say what helps tasks move. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2026

Oura’s Resilience score uses a 14-day window to track stress load against recovery, nudging users to think in multi-week training blocks rather than daily streaks. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026