1
as in brushing
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing
accidentally nudged me as they squeezed past
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nudging
Your 9th House of Exploration takes focus as the vibrant Sun squares tender Chiron, nudging you to test a belief by practicing it in decisions.
—
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026
With charming Venus in your subtle 12th house nudging lucky Jupiter in your dutiful 6th house, your time will be best spent in quiet, practical actions.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
With food inflation nudging menu prices higher, and GLP-1s transforming eating habits, a pizzeria’s true takeout rival may no longer be the other Tony’s across the street, but rather the nutrient-rich bowl slop from Uber Eats.
—Molly Liebergall, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
Family has become the top reason for moving nationally, nudging out jobs, which were the main motivator before the pandemic, Cummings said.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Lawrence Taylor's emergence as part of a fearsome New York Giants defense is widely credited with nudging the league toward officially recognizing sacks as a statistic in 1982, but team historians and researchers have been trying to quantify pre-1982 sacks for decades.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 Dec. 2025
Still, this meal showed how a meal kit can refresh something familiar by nudging you to try new combinations.
—Brittany Loggins, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Dec. 2025
Playing behaviors in horses include nudging, lifting, chewing or swinging objects, and according to Applied Animal Behavior Science, such play can reduce stress and contribute to better welfare.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Last week, Ian seemed to be nudging Robert into taking her off the board.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2025
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026
With charming Venus in your subtle 12th house nudging lucky Jupiter in your dutiful 6th house, your time will be best spent in quiet, practical actions.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
With food inflation nudging menu prices higher, and GLP-1s transforming eating habits, a pizzeria’s true takeout rival may no longer be the other Tony’s across the street, but rather the nutrient-rich bowl slop from Uber Eats.
—Molly Liebergall, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
Family has become the top reason for moving nationally, nudging out jobs, which were the main motivator before the pandemic, Cummings said.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Lawrence Taylor's emergence as part of a fearsome New York Giants defense is widely credited with nudging the league toward officially recognizing sacks as a statistic in 1982, but team historians and researchers have been trying to quantify pre-1982 sacks for decades.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 Dec. 2025
Still, this meal showed how a meal kit can refresh something familiar by nudging you to try new combinations.
—Brittany Loggins, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Dec. 2025
Playing behaviors in horses include nudging, lifting, chewing or swinging objects, and according to Applied Animal Behavior Science, such play can reduce stress and contribute to better welfare.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Last week, Ian seemed to be nudging Robert into taking her off the board.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudging
Verb
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My son spent two days brushing, shampooing, and riding horses.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Jan. 2026
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But there are also songs about washing your hair and brushing your teeth.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Retail groups aren’t the only ones urging the bill’s swift passage.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
14 Jan. 2026
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Fans flooded the comment section with excitement, urging the accomplished athlete to revert to his iconic hairstyle.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Kittle included some photos of himself on the field and a picture of his wife, Claire Kittle, kissing him in the locker room.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
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At that moment, kissing somehow felt more intimate.—
Louis Staples,
Glamour,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety is also encouraging impacted customers to contact them by submitting a complaint online or calling 303-866-4967.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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Known for encouraging collaboration in a competitive industry, Brotherton was widely regarded as someone who championed other cooks as much as his own success.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudging. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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