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prod 1 of 2

verb

ˈpräd How to pronounce prod (audio)
Definition of prodnext
1
as in to poke
to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object kept prodding the sheep with a staff to move along faster

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

prod

2 of 2

noun

as in stimulus

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prod
Verb
But for all of his music guaranteed to prod a melancholic moment, Taylor didn’t snub the buoyant offerings from his heady catalog. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 But economic and political pressures, both domestic and international, have been prodding policymakers to rethink the path and the pace of getting there. — Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
Michelle Montez, a flight attendant for 20 years, said barely a flight goes by where someone doesn’t poke, tap, prod or otherwise touch her. — Hannah Sampson, Washington Post, 28 May 2026 The cutbacks are going far beyond a friendly prod to boost NATO defense spending. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for prod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prod
  1. poke
  2. urge
  3. stimulus
  4. spur
  5. encourage
  6. stimulation
  7. stab
  8. nudge
Verb
  • Sometimes only the tips of the reeds and the seed heads were visible, poking above the murky water, and other times the reeds stood fully exposed, with a clear view of crabs clambering around their bases.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Video posted to social media showed one car nearly submerged, with just its sunroof poking above the water, as people moved other vehicles farther from the rising tides.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • The county urged the Supreme Court to reject the administration's appeal, while the state of Texas submitted its own brief defending the database.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The county urged the Supreme Court to reject the administration’s appeal, while the state of Texas submitted its own brief defending the database.
    — Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of urge
Noun
  • Consequently, the resulting economic stimulus, inflationary pressure, and intense competition for capital could propel the 10 year US Treasury yield toward a high of 6% before next January.
    — , CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Scientists are beginning to treat gravity almost like a drug, varying its strength, duration, and frequency on the human body to learn what dose might keep astronauts healthy and whether the same stimulus could help rehabilitate patients on Earth.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of stimulus
Verb
  • Nonprofit leaders are reporting alarming burnout rates and more and more organizations are facing financial challenges that have spurred layoffs and, in some cases, closures.
    — Phil Buchanan, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The effort is part of a growing pro-play movement emerging as the next phase of the ed-tech backlash that gripped classrooms across the country, and spurred cellphone bans and screen time limits.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of spur
Verb
  • Partnership is the guiding motif of the World Soundtrack Awards’ Film Music Days, where live performances will give cult films bold new scores and industry mixers encourage emerging composers and filmmakers to find their creative match.
    — Ben Croll, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The breakthrough came after Arnold Schwarzenegger encouraged Figure to melt the robots.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of encourage
Noun
  • Potential applications include neural stimulation and drug delivery, although the technology remains at the research stage.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
  • This is also tested during the surgery by sending stimulation to part of her brain.
    — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of stimulation
Verb
  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot appeared to be trying to crash the aircraft after stabbing the other pilot.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said one of the pilots stabbed the other and apparently attempted to crash the aircraft, which was carrying mostly Israeli passengers.
    — Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of stab
Verb
  • Gio Giovanni Gerosa While knitwear and colorful silk dresses remain at the center of Giovanni Gerosa’s universe, his brand’s latest collection nudged the designer’s penchant for craftsmanship into new territories.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • So there’s not that much to happen in the last two-thirds of the drama than for your ribs to be constantly nudged with the idea of how easily the most respectable citizens among us will give in to modest proposals and, indeed, murder.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of nudge

Browse Nearby Words

procuring
prod
prodded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prod. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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