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
Relevance
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
Wissa was an important signing, someone to take the pressure off Woltemade while simultaneously prodding him.
—
George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodding
Verb
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In 2009, Tropicana replaced its familiar logo, an orange with a straw poking out, with a minimalist design featuring a glass of orange juice.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
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Routh allegedly came within a few hundred yards of Trump before a Secret Service agent spotted his rifle poking out of a tree line.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In late August, nine Republican House lawmakers sent a letter urging the DOJ to halt a cannabis rescheduling proposal.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Nevertheless, meteorologists are urging people to remain alert, as sea temperatures remain high and storms can still form well into October and even November.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On a moonless night in January, a gargantuan turtle was digging a nest high up on a soft sand beach at Galathea Bay on the Great Nicobar Island in the Indian Ocean.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
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Dogs have a way of surprising their owners with strange, determined behaviors—but few are as dramatic as Rosie's relentless digging spree.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The immediacy and interactivity of social media platforms amplified the outrage, encouraging group mobilization.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
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By encouraging curiosity, leaders and employees can move beyond surface-level use and unlock the full potential of the tools around them.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Many gig workers also operate across multiple brands and industries, spurring a cross-pollination of ideas that sharpens their work, fuels continuous improvement, and creates a more empathetic, modern approach to customer experience.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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His death is again spurring conversation around political violence in America – and what can be done about it.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Brook Health can respond to the data in real time—nudging patients to remind them when to take their vitals and providing health recommendations when needed.—
Alexis Kayser,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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Before September comes to a close, however, your passion intensifies, as do questions around intimacy, shared investments and desire, nudging you to create a healthy balance in your love life.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The video shows Brown seated behind the victim before pulling out a folding knife and stabbing her multiple times without provocation.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
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Around four minutes later, the man pulls out a knife and begins stabbing Zarutska three times, including at least once in the neck.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Taddese is on the ground, bent over, face down, as a man kicks him, and the woman who was pushed, dressed in a black jumpsuit and barefoot, gets up and begins punching him.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
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Samirah, the central performer, entrances Billie—her lyrics punching over vibrating beats, her voice gritty and sultry.—
Lauren Morrow
September 9,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prodding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodding. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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