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
Seven gentle touches later, each nudging the ball only a few inches at a time, was enough to paralyse Diouf.
—
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 12 May 2026
The French hospitality giant that pioneered the concept in 1950 has spent the past two decades nudging it steadily upmarket, phasing out its midscale portfolio and focusing exclusively on premium properties, often in more complex categories.
—Ashlea Halpern, Time, 30 Apr. 2026
Prices in the Inland Empire were nudging closer to $6 on Thursday.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
OpenAI, for example, added a feature to ChatGPT in August that encourages users to take breaks after using the tool for extended periods of time instead of nudging them to keep responding.
—Renée Onque, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Five‑generation workforces that tap older adults as talent, mentors, and innovators instead of nudging them to the sidelines.
—Ken Dychtwald, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
There is no bidding war, no incremental raises, and definitely no call from a specialist nudging you higher.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
This external stripping accelerates the heating and expansion of the dwarf galaxy, nudging it toward that dynamical attractor even faster.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Crappies are quite capable of inhaling your entire jig without even nudging the float.
—Cory Schmidt, Outdoor Life, 15 Apr. 2026
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 12 May 2026
The French hospitality giant that pioneered the concept in 1950 has spent the past two decades nudging it steadily upmarket, phasing out its midscale portfolio and focusing exclusively on premium properties, often in more complex categories.
—Ashlea Halpern, Time, 30 Apr. 2026
Prices in the Inland Empire were nudging closer to $6 on Thursday.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
OpenAI, for example, added a feature to ChatGPT in August that encourages users to take breaks after using the tool for extended periods of time instead of nudging them to keep responding.
—Renée Onque, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Five‑generation workforces that tap older adults as talent, mentors, and innovators instead of nudging them to the sidelines.
—Ken Dychtwald, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
There is no bidding war, no incremental raises, and definitely no call from a specialist nudging you higher.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
This external stripping accelerates the heating and expansion of the dwarf galaxy, nudging it toward that dynamical attractor even faster.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Crappies are quite capable of inhaling your entire jig without even nudging the float.
—Cory Schmidt, Outdoor Life, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudging
Verb
-
In April, O’Reilly’s opener was an unchallenged header in the six-yard box after brushing off Santos.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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The scribble art was placed right in the bend of her knee, with some of the design just barely brushing her lower thigh.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Iran’s leaders have been trying to shore up the homefront by showing sympathy while also urging the public to endure the economic pain for the sake of the war effort.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
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Rich Greenfield of LightShed Partners offered a similar take, urging D’Amaro to split the company’s linear TV assets from its entertainment and streaming operations.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
By the end of it, people are of course kissing, because that’s what should be happening all the time.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
7 May 2026
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, kissing at the Grand Champions Polo Club as his team won the Royal Salute Polo Challenge.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Iranian officials are encouraging the population to consume less electricity and gas, as a US blockade has interrupted the flow of shipments to Iran.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
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Now there’s emphasis on offense, teaching it and coaching it and encouraging it.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudging. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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