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
Lawyers for Julia Ormond are looking to have the court issue a bench warrant for the arrest of CAA cofounder Michael Ovitz for walking out of a deposition after being prodded about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
—
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2026
Some lawmakers openly prodded Netanyahu on Monday to move closer to the US by seeking to bolster negotiations on winding down the war.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 June 2026
The dynamic has prodded PG&E to ramp up efforts to upgrade and expand its electrical system in the South Bay and elsewhere.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
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
There might never have been The Osbournes had Stern not pushed and prodded the deliciously wacky rock star family to bring their story to the airwaves.
—Malina Saval, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026
The Gilbert family prodded the authorities to continue searching for Shannan Gilbert, and on December 13, 2011, her remains were found in the Oak Beach marshlands.
—Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
Learning cannot be condensed into an accelerated course, shoehorned into a semester calendar, rushed and prodded along.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
Some sob when prodded by a fork, others are straight up devoured.
—Joe Wilkins Published Mar 12, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2026
Some lawmakers openly prodded Netanyahu on Monday to move closer to the US by seeking to bolster negotiations on winding down the war.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 June 2026
The dynamic has prodded PG&E to ramp up efforts to upgrade and expand its electrical system in the South Bay and elsewhere.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
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
There might never have been The Osbournes had Stern not pushed and prodded the deliciously wacky rock star family to bring their story to the airwaves.
—Malina Saval, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026
The Gilbert family prodded the authorities to continue searching for Shannan Gilbert, and on December 13, 2011, her remains were found in the Oak Beach marshlands.
—Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
Learning cannot be condensed into an accelerated course, shoehorned into a semester calendar, rushed and prodded along.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
Some sob when prodded by a fork, others are straight up devoured.
—Joe Wilkins Published Mar 12, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodded
Verb
-
The view was uncommonly broad, and the city skyline poked out of the eastern sky.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
16 June 2026
-
Jo Adell poked a tying single through the infield moments later.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Officials in Hood County, Texas, for example, rejected a proposal for a six-month moratorium after a state senator urged the Texas attorney general to intervene and prevent the measure.—
Rachel Mural,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
-
Van Diggelen urged her colleagues to be open to diverse conversations and understand that men and women operate differently.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
In a 2021 court decision, an incarcerated man had tried to sue Bureau of Prisons officials after his cellmate stabbed him and left him blind in one eye.—
Christie Thompson,
NPR,
17 June 2026
-
Young climbed into a box, which Strange then stabbed repeatedly, prompting groans from the audience.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Making the leap to full-time guiding came after long hours and a pivotal conversation with his wife, his biggest supporter and accountability partner, who encouraged him to pursue life around his most consuming obsession.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 June 2026
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In the news release, the Sheriff’s Office encouraged the public to wear proper safety equipment and to wear personal floatation devices while on the water.—
Velvet Wu
June 21,
Sacbee.com,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
But algorithms and online outrage have spurred a political factionalism.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
This success has spurred WWE officials to advocate for a significant push for Gable, with strong support for a prominent role at SummerSlam 2026 in his hometown.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Workers who get nudged into saving, save.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
-
Forecasters nudged up their growth outlook, lowered the probability of recession from 33% in April to 25%, and reduced their expectations for the unemployment rate.—
Steve Liesman,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The fact that Claridge’s dug deep into the grounds underneath to construct a 7,000-square-foot spa and wellness area showed how invested the hotel is in this topic.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
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For dessert, Ladeira dug deep into his Portuguese roots, fusing two traditional desserts into one.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Algeria turned up the pressure in the second half and had multiple shots on goal that Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila punched away, but a corner kick in the 69th minute proved to be the Jordanian keeper’s kryptonite.—
Christian Babcock,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
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At least in comparison to Gragson being punched by Ross Chastain at the Kansas Speedway three years ago.—
Alex Kalinauckas,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prodded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodded. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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