1
as in brushing
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 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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nudging
When snowflakes began to fall, some stuck their tongues out and laughed, playfully nudging one another.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
After all the years of dreaming and campaigning and nudging the league for an outdoor game, Vinik suffered a major leg fracture during a snowmobiling accident on a trip to Norway with his kids.
—Joe Smith, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
The two appeared to exchange words while walking toward security, with Richardson still nudging him and appearing to reach for his face.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
This February, the universe is nudging you to choose evolution over familiarity.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
Anyone who actively uses a Fitbit tracker has likely long since moved over to a Google account, given how pro-active Google has been in nudging its audience to do so.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The morning favors slow starts, nudging us to notice needs early and respond without wasting time.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
The speedy little Mercedes slipped beneath the truck, nudging it lightly in the belly, and contracted, crushing within itself two male bodies slack with drink and sleep.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
California’s declines can be more properties for sale, nudging sellers to compete on price, and a wobbly economy scaring off some potential buyers.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
After all the years of dreaming and campaigning and nudging the league for an outdoor game, Vinik suffered a major leg fracture during a snowmobiling accident on a trip to Norway with his kids.
—Joe Smith, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
The two appeared to exchange words while walking toward security, with Richardson still nudging him and appearing to reach for his face.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
This February, the universe is nudging you to choose evolution over familiarity.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
Anyone who actively uses a Fitbit tracker has likely long since moved over to a Google account, given how pro-active Google has been in nudging its audience to do so.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The morning favors slow starts, nudging us to notice needs early and respond without wasting time.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
The speedy little Mercedes slipped beneath the truck, nudging it lightly in the belly, and contracted, crushing within itself two male bodies slack with drink and sleep.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
California’s declines can be more properties for sale, nudging sellers to compete on price, and a wobbly economy scaring off some potential buyers.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudging
Verb
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But instead of brushing out the curls, Fox left them as-is, giving her look a sweet, fanciful twist.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
10 Feb. 2026
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Getting your dog to the ring takes hours of work, from brushing and blow-drying to careful styling.—
Martha Teichner,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The New Mexico Department of Health issued a warning Tuesday urging people to avoid consuming raw dairy products following the newborn’s death.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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Wade's attorney says members of Congress from both parties have written to DHS urging the case be reopened.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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They were spotted kissing and dancing at Gator’s just hours before the arrest, as seen in video obtained by TMZ.—
Jami Ganz,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
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Noone admitted in court to touching the teen inappropriately by rubbing and grabbing the teen’s butt, kissing her arm and rubbing her thigh, according to the Times.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The challenge lies in balancing functional benefit with the risk of encouraging unnecessary anthropomorphism and its broader social consequences.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
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This structure is intended to help keep value circulating within the community, encouraging positive participation rather than framing compliance as a penalty.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudging. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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