1
as in poked
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
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2
as in urged
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prodded
As much as analyst Jessica Reif Erlich prodded, Woodbury declined to give numbers of any sort for Epic post-launch.
—
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
But Voccola said he was prodded into action after the City Commission voted 3-2 in June to postpone the November 2025 election to 2026 without voter approval.
—Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
Naked people are collared, bound, prodded, whipped, ridden like horses, roasted over spits.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Those clients and patients will often walk in the door with preconceived beliefs about how their therapy should go or is going, spurred and prodded by what AI has told them.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Having to spend three hours being poked and prodded and prevented from making phone calls rankled; Diamandis is an incorrigible multitasker.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
But Voccola said he was prodded into action after the City Commission voted 3-2 in June to postpone the November 2025 election to 2026 without voter approval.
—Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
Naked people are collared, bound, prodded, whipped, ridden like horses, roasted over spits.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Those clients and patients will often walk in the door with preconceived beliefs about how their therapy should go or is going, spurred and prodded by what AI has told them.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Having to spend three hours being poked and prodded and prevented from making phone calls rankled; Diamandis is an incorrigible multitasker.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodded
Verb
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The post, which shared several photos from the outing, also poked fun at the couple getting caught in the rain while meeting with schoolchildren at the museum.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
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While some people argued that the photo was degrading to women, Carpenter stood by the photo and poked fun at the controversy while sharing alternate album covers.—
Katherine Schaffstall,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The 26-year-old has been Arsenal’s captain since the summer of 2022, but in August, Adams urged Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to strip the Norway international of the Arsenal captaincy and hand the role to Declan Rice.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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Chad Bauman, executive director at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, urged the committee to reject the funding allocations in the hopes of obtaining more money for the theater company.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Horne's announcement came just over two weeks after a 16-year-old was fatally stabbed in a classroom in west Phoenix's Maryvale High School.—
Erick Trevino,
AZCentral.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The son and daughter of one of the victims said their father was stabbed several times after someone broke into his home.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Mixing and matching is encouraged.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Those who experienced the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Dressed in baby blue matching shirts, the Milwaukee Beach Ambassadors have been working to educate Lake Michigan beachgoers on current and water conditions since 2021, an effort spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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This rising use of AI has principally been spurred by the evolving advances and widespread adoption of generative AI.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The central bank has nudged up its short-term policy rate and scaled back bond-buying operations, all signaling that keeping yields contained will be a tough ask.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
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The illusion of infinite choice online masks a narrowing of exposure to new ideas — millions scrolling different feeds, but being nudged toward the same few ways of thinking.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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They were originally considered too wet to develop, but that was before the Portage Marina basin was dug decades ago, so the flood plain maps are outdated.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
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With indigenous grapes back in the spotlight, clay jars are being dug again, and bottles are appearing on shelves from Paris to Los Angeles.—
Layne Randolph,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Delaney-Rowland told him to put the gun away, but when Parker didn’t, Delaney-Rowland punched him again, then Parker shot him in the back of the head, police said.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
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Like the clang of bells, the sound bypassed my ears and punched the air from my lungs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prodded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodded. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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