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
As Denji grapples with his growing feelings for her despite his loyalty to Makima, Reze begins prodding him to consider his place in Public Safety, and whether a teenager should really be put in the position of risking his life for the bare minimum of food and shelter.
—
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
Alex Caruso was the ace in the hole, pestering and prodding Jokic to death in Game 7.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025
In some cases, like my request for headache tips, bots end their messages with prodding follow-up questions.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Wissa was an important signing, someone to take the pressure off Woltemade while simultaneously prodding him.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
Alex Caruso was the ace in the hole, pestering and prodding Jokic to death in Game 7.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025
In some cases, like my request for headache tips, bots end their messages with prodding follow-up questions.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Wissa was an important signing, someone to take the pressure off Woltemade while simultaneously prodding him.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodding
Verb
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This isn’t Lovato’s first time poking fun at the meme.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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Or use your finger, poking it about 2 inches into the soil.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Porat closed by urging leaders to really dig in and reimagine what’s possible in their own organizations.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
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Forecasters are urging travelers to check state road condition websites before setting out, as snow and ice are likely on high-elevation roads and mountain passes.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But after two weeks of digging, Phipps and his older cousin revealed that those bones belonged to a stunning triceratops.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
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What began as an underdog quietly morphed into a 2025 Song of the Year contender, digging its way into the Hot 100’s Top 10 nearly a year after its debut.—
Carl Lamarre,
Billboard,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Police are encouraging anyone with knowledge of the crash to come forward with further details.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Several viewers shared more helpful solutions, with some encouraging the woman to ask a pest control professional for help.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For many shrubs, pruning in the fall weakens the plant by spurring tender new growth that is vulnerable to coming frosts.—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
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For weeks, federal agents and local police set up checkpoints across the city, spurring protests.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Where’s this rising courage nudging you to act bigger and bolder?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
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Instead, the director Scott Cooper’s film turns on Landau recognizing that the tracks reflect Springsteen confronting inner darkness—including his conflicted feelings about his father and his fear of his growing fame—and nudging the musician to realize his need for further help.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Not his first murder In 1988, Andres was convicted of stabbing to death 32-year-old Linda Azcarreta, a friend of his wife.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
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Police in Kansas have arrested a former TV news anchor in connection to the stabbing death of her elderly mother.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Anthropic’s Claude wanted to know whether my headache was tension-related, due to sinus pressure, or something else entirely—hardly a goading question.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prodding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodding. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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