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
Kuhner is a writer, and, a few months after his family arrived, neighbors started prodding him to take over the local bookstore, which was being sold.
—
Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
And six years later, Donovan is still prodding and cajoling the forward to crash the boards and control his dribble and contribute physically to the game.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Some say his solo effort against Manchester City in 2021 was the pinnacle, when the winger waltzed past one of the best defenses in the world before prodding his shot into the side-netting.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026
Instead, the White House appears to be prodding Iranian reformers to step forward to put their nation on a more sustainable course.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Still, hardline conservatives in the House are prodding the Senate to try the talking filibuster move.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 7 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
Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
And six years later, Donovan is still prodding and cajoling the forward to crash the boards and control his dribble and contribute physically to the game.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Some say his solo effort against Manchester City in 2021 was the pinnacle, when the winger waltzed past one of the best defenses in the world before prodding his shot into the side-netting.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026
Instead, the White House appears to be prodding Iranian reformers to step forward to put their nation on a more sustainable course.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Still, hardline conservatives in the House are prodding the Senate to try the talking filibuster move.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 7 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodding
Verb
-
For his part, Anderson possessed a wry sense of humor and wasn’t above poking fun at himself.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
This second season is once again poking at inertia and stasis and how romantic relationships can crumble into a series of self-destructive choices.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Pittsburgh Regional Transit Officials are urging people attending the draft and going to Pittsburgh to use public transit with major road closures and traffic restrictions that will be in place throughout the three-day event.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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In March, Israel’s minister of diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, sent a letter urging Ottawa to increase efforts to protect Jewish communities after three synagogues in the Toronto area were hit by gunfire within just one week.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On the side of the house, another group of students was digging the ditch where the electrical lines would lie.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Scientists say that shells of reptiles caught by children may have been used as ladles or digging devices by early humans over 100,000 years ago.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Between parking restrictions and road closures, Boston is encouraging Marathon Monday visitors to walk, bike, take the T — anything but drive — to watch the runners or attend the day’s festivities.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The five-star analyst added that growing demand in scale-up networking is giving confidence in continued strength in future earnings, encouraging investors to look beyond 2027 and factor in these opportunities.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As with any successful mission, Cassini’s wealth of riches should be spurring us on to future investigations.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In at least six instances, people have survived the operations, spurring efforts to find and rescue them in most cases.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
By nudging or priming people with these human-like cues, then that shifts us more into the warmth dimension.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Or set the dial to infinity point (∞) on your lens' dial and take an image, nudging past it for each successive image until the stars are sharp.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Police were called to the area by witnesses who reported a woman was actively stabbing a man.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Delisle pleaded guilty to stabbing his father in April 2025 and lighting the family’s mobile home on fire in the 1000 block of 3rd Street North, according to a judgment of conviction.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His Dahl is constantly goading people, driving them right up to the edge of their tolerance.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
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So, does Roan deserve all the credit for softening the nature of these carpets, where dozens of photographers gather to scream goading or even offensive remarks at talent just to get their attention?—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prodding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodding. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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