Synonyms of prodded

prodded

verb

past tense of prod

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

• poked
• stabbed
• spurred
• dug
• punched
• nudged
• goaded
• knocked
• jabbed
• drilled
• pricked
• propelled
• stuck
• bored
• punctured
• drove
• pierced
• jogged
• perforated
• chucked
• haled

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

• urged
• encouraged
• nudged
• prompted
• goaded
• coaxed
• pushed
• exhorted
• spurred
• pressed
• propelled
• stimulated
• egged (on)
• cajoled
• drove
• hurried
• provoked
• implored
• hustled
• pressured
• rushed
• importuned
• beseeched
• wheedled
• nagged
• needled
• adjured
• incited
• fomented
• instigated
• stirred (up)
• blandished
• soft-soaped
• high-pressured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discouraged
• deterred
• checked
• dissuaded
• restrained
• constrained
• inhibited
• held back
• curbed
• braked

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of prodded

Builders, prodded to work beyond city limits, adopted Olmsted’s vision for what those suburbs should look like. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

She's trekked the Indian Himalayas, chanted with with Buddhist monks in Laos, chatted with a ghost in Bali and has been repeatedly poked, prodded and pummelled in the name of wellness. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026

Trump publicly prodded the Health secretary for an update on autism research in a Cabinet meeting last month. — Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026

And along with the documentary, you get prodded into recall again. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026

Goldfarb rhetorically asks himself when prodded for response. — Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Rested during a dead-rubber loss to Turkey, Balogun returned Wednesday for the round-of-32 clash with Bosnia and prodded home the opening strike in that 2-0 triumph. — Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 6 July 2026

Later in the second half, Olise teed up Ousmane Dembele with prodded outside-of-the-boot passes after picking up loose balls in front of the defence. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Lawyers for Julia Ormond are looking to have the court issue a bench warrant for the arrest of CAA co-founder Michael Ovitz for walking out of a deposition after being prodded about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. — Winston Cho For The Hollywood Reporter, ARTnews.com, 24 June 2026