1
as in poking
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 urging
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 prodding
There are close-ups of hands kneading dough, a snail sliming its way up a window and Cathy prodding a jellied fish with her finger.
—
Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Elliott, which took a $4 billion stake in PepsiCo in September, has been prodding the company’s board to make changes, saying PepsiCo was being hurt by slowing growth and lower profits in its North American food and beverage business.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Wondrous Neptune is soaring into your 9th House of Investigations, prodding you out of your comfort zone.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Jordan, at times, could be abrasive and biting while relentlessly prodding his teammates to push themselves to excellence.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
The moment in 1997 when the esoteric holiday left the closed confines of the television writer’s memories of an atypical adolescence and slipped into the world via Hollywood producers took place as he was cornered in a booth with his colleagues prodding him to spill the beans.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
Near the end of the October hearing, with prodding from the judge, Bruno sounded ready to accept the university’s settlement offer and move on with his life.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Dec. 2025
PepsiCo is making the changes after prodding from Elliott Investment Management, which took a $4 billion stake in the company in September.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2025
For decades, American presidents have tried to solve these states’ inherent tensions by attacking or otherwise prodding them.
—Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025
Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Elliott, which took a $4 billion stake in PepsiCo in September, has been prodding the company’s board to make changes, saying PepsiCo was being hurt by slowing growth and lower profits in its North American food and beverage business.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Wondrous Neptune is soaring into your 9th House of Investigations, prodding you out of your comfort zone.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Jordan, at times, could be abrasive and biting while relentlessly prodding his teammates to push themselves to excellence.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
The moment in 1997 when the esoteric holiday left the closed confines of the television writer’s memories of an atypical adolescence and slipped into the world via Hollywood producers took place as he was cornered in a booth with his colleagues prodding him to spill the beans.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
Near the end of the October hearing, with prodding from the judge, Bruno sounded ready to accept the university’s settlement offer and move on with his life.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Dec. 2025
PepsiCo is making the changes after prodding from Elliott Investment Management, which took a $4 billion stake in the company in September.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2025
For decades, American presidents have tried to solve these states’ inherent tensions by attacking or otherwise prodding them.
—Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodding
Verb
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The Telltale Signs of Rotary Motion The re-examination revealed unmistakable evidence that this was no simple awl meant for poking holes.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Garlic is a kitchen staple for many, but spotting a green sprout poking out of a clove can raise questions about food safety.—
Caitlin Beale,
Health,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Sierra Avalanche Center reports high avalanche risk through at least this morning, urging people to avoid travel in or below avalanche terrain.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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The Pima County sheriff took the unusual step of publicly clearing the family as suspects, urging the public to show compassion toward the victims.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Directed by Don Prod, the clip tracks the British rapper driving an old Aston Martin, drinking whiskey, and literally digging his own grave.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
12 Feb. 2026
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And honestly, who enjoys digging through mostly empty bottles just to find one tiny pill?—
Carin Ryan,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Buying local products, providing local and state funding sources, supporting agricultural preservation programs, encouraging lawmakers to prioritize the importance of farming and supporting local agriculture education programs are partial solutions.—
Joe Dymek,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Feb. 2026
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Your 4th House of Home becomes a deep well as the nurturing Moon conjoins unearthing Pluto there, encouraging you to cleanse closets and clear emotional dust.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At his confirmation hearing, Kennedy refused to disavow links between vaccines and autism, a favorite theory of outfits spurring vaccine hesitancy among parents, though numerous studies have found no connection.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
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In a Wednesday post on Truth Social, the president touted the strong January jobs gain and insisted the Fed should cut interest rates to keep spurring growth.—
Sylvan Lane,
The Hill,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cogan appears to be nudging the Supreme Court to change its approach to determining what is and isn’t considered a crime of violence.—
John Annese,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
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Cogan appears to be nudging the Supreme Court to change its approach to determining what is and isn’t considered a crime of violence.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mohammed Ahmad Hussein al-Halsi was sentenced in 2016 to 18 years behind bars for stabbing elderly women.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Another Jefferson County circuit judge, Jessica Green, last year drew local and national criticism after granting shock probation to a 32-year-old man accused of abducting a mother and two children and stabbing the mother during a bank robbery.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Reporters looking to stir up trouble in the press room were goading American players, particularly those with foreign-sounding last names.—
Beth Herman,
Boston Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
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Julian and Neil take to goading and championing the understandably hangdog Matt.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prodding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodding. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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