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
Relevance
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodded
Verb
-
The clip poked fun at photos from the couple's recent cover shoot for Interview magazine.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
11 Mar. 2025 -
Chris Kreider poked a puck away from Yegor Chinakhov.—
Peter Baugh,
The Athletic,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Earlier in December, Pope Benedict XV urged a holiday truce.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 Dec. 2024
-
In an age where we are constantly urged to do more and be always connected, deliberately seeking out silence can feel like an act of rebellion.—
Richard E. Cytowic,
TIME,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Two people were stabbed at a transit station in Queens, with one of them dying, and a woman was set on fire and died on a subway car in Brooklyn.—
Jack Birle,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
23 Dec. 2024
-
Hernandez-Velasco, 32, was rushed to Stamford Hospital after he was stabbed at a party, cops said.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Before the Democratic National Convention in 1912, McCombs encouraged prominent journalists and editors to write articles supportive of Wilson's nomination.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
22 Mar. 2025
-
The party has dismissed the raucous town halls in conservative districts as the work of liberal activist groups, which have encouraged people to flood public forums in an attempt to highlight frustrations with the administration.—
Riley Beggin,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The original 1990 film grossed more than $470 million in the worldwide box office and spurred five sequels that followed the original movie.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Yet even with uncertainty on the horizon, some buyers might feel spurred into action.—
Kristine Gill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Eazy The Block Captain and Shields also hopped into the fray, with Eazy disputing Papoose’s claim that he was punched unconscious and challenging him to a fight.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Rosa went on to detail that one of the young women punched her in the face, causing her glasses to fly to the floor, at which point a second teen grabbed a pouch containing Rosa's ID and medical records.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
5 Jan. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Prodded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodded. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share