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
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
The city has played a role in prodding investment with land sales and grants.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 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
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
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
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
The city has played a role in prodding investment with land sales and grants.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodding
Verb
-
Weeks later, the congresswoman could still the fractured bones in his forearm poking up under the skin.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The prosecutor said Tran tried to take his own life by slitting a wrist, cutting his neck and poking a blade into his stomach.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The intuitive Moon squares Saturn, pitting your 3rd House of Distractions against your 6th House of Pragmatism, urging specific words, meticulous timing, and sensible boundaries.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The rest of the team departed Sydney Tuesday for Malaysia, arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where video posted to social media showed members of the Iranian community urging them not to return to Iran.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
However, this is not just about digging holes.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
If not, keep digging and cutting.—
Daniel Scott,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In fact, the director was egging me on, encouraging me to go further with the hunching and muttering.—
Andrew Martin,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Benevolent Venus complements rule-minded Saturn in your 11th House of Friendship, encouraging clear agreements with your teams and friends.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The storms hit a broad section of the nation’s midsection, spurring tornado warnings and watches from Oklahoma to Iowa to Michigan.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
-
In schizophrenia, one type of psychotic disorder, exercise is believed to be neuroprotective, tamping down inflammation in the brain and spurring the release of chemicals that support and maintain brain cell growth.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That motivation wasn’t the product of his famous father nudging him.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Your 4th House of Family receives support as sensual Venus sextiles unearthing Pluto in your logical 2nd house, nudging you to refresh your routines and polish your living space.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ivan Miller, 22, of Blakesburg, Iowa, admitted to shooting the three women and stabbing one of them in interviews with investigators, according to a criminal complaint.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA TODAY,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The next morning, as Nguyen was getting ready for work, Tran shot her in the arm with a BB gun, forced her into a closet and then began stabbing her repeatedly with a knife, Campbell said.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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 12 Mar. 2026.
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