1
2
as in to urge
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
a public outcry eventually prodded the politicians into action
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in stimulus
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of prod
Simon Johnson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Technicians poke and prod every component at test benches attached to custom boards with thousands of nodes.
—Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 30 Apr. 2026
James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
In an entry hall, kites overhead, frozen mid-swoop, are by Yinka Shonibare, a Nigerian Brit who works in batik as a prod at colonialism.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prod
Verb
Ryan Yates prodded the ball to Dilane Bakwa, who in turn crossed for Taiwo Awoniyi to guide home a header and put them in front.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Technicians poke and prod every component at test benches attached to custom boards with thousands of nodes.
—Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
In response to my prod, the bot merely teeters.
—James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
In an entry hall, kites overhead, frozen mid-swoop, are by Yinka Shonibare, a Nigerian Brit who works in batik as a prod at colonialism.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prod
Verb
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Spikes of speedwell look lovely poking up along the edges of paths and garden beds in summer.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
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Some birds also will poke holes in the ground looking for tasty critters.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Direct Action Everywhere said the protest was part of an ongoing campaign urging Erewhon to stop selling products tied to factory farms where activists allege criminal animal abuse has occurred.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
20 May 2026
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Anyone who suffered property damage from bullets outside of the immediate area of the house was urged to call Anaheim police.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Renter Mandy Feng, who prefers to use a pseudonym for fear of being seen criticizing the authorities, said the stimulus the government is offering has failed to offset people’s anxiety over an uncertain economic outlook.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
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Perhaps sensing this, the league trotted out a series of onstage stimuli between picks.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill helped launch the modern environmental movement and spurred strict state coastal protections.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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The latest trip was spurred by an underwater interview project proposed by Stanford University anthropologist Ayana Omilade Flewellen, who serves on the board of Diving With a Purpose, a Black scuba diving nonprofit dedicated to documenting slave shipwrecks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The sleek black straps instantly make the Birkenstock Arizona Softbed Birk-flo Sandals feel a little more sleek, while the roomy design encourages a more natural stride during long sightseeing days.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2026
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Customer loyalty programs can be powerful tools for encouraging repeat business, deepening customer relationships and giving brands a more direct way to stay connected with their audiences.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Noun
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Hair follicle stimulation and density support are provided through PRP and mesotherapy, while graft preservation is supported through IceGraft technology to help maintain graft condition.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
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In an era when many A-list veterans keep adding layers — orchestras, backing tracks, costume changes, guest appearances, enough visual stimulation to warrant warnings to fans with photosensitive epilepsy — Sting has gone the opposite direction.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Three people were stabbed on a Rhode Island beach Tuesday as hundreds of teenagers packed the area, forcing beachgoers to flee.—
Louis Casiano , Brooke Taylor,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
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The family's dog then came to protect the family, and Vigneau allegedly stabbed the dog twice in the mouth area, prosecutors say.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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The 6-to-1 grocery method — six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces, one fun item — has caught on as a low-effort way to nudge the cart toward what the research keeps recommending.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
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Amazon left its full-year spending outlook at $200 billion and Alphabet nudged up its capex 2026 guidance to $180 billion and $190 billion.—
Matthew J. Belvedere,
CNBC,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prod. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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