as in influencing
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1
as in causing
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)
a misguided pride prompted the family to refuse all offers of help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urging
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
prompted the reluctant performer onto the stage with loud cheers and whistles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prompting
Adrienne Farr, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Without any prompting from leadership, there was much discussion in the hallways that Netflix made the right call to exert financial discipline and not get caught up in the hunt.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
In 2016, Arnold went to rehab for alcohol addiction, at the prompting of country singer Charlie Daniels.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 Feb. 2026
The skill of the future is real-time prompting, including excelling at steering an AI’s output during a live brainstorm.
—David Henkin, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
On the same day, at Southside Presbyterian Church, in Tucson, Arizona, a similar press conference was held at the prompting of an eccentric goat herder named Jim Corbett, who had been sheltering refugees for the past year and had turned to the church for help.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
Thanks to the miracle of intellectual property, free-enterprise and the prompting of a brilliant record executive, this unlikely collaboration brought together artists and professionals from very different walks of life—shattering geographic, racial, age and faith boundaries.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
All of them gave concerning answers with minimal prompting.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Nov. 2025
James competed on American Idol season 18 in 2020, originally under the name Sophia Wackerman before changing her surname at the prompting of the judges.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
According to footage capturing one of the encounters, the suspect appeared to pray in the family’s driveway before approaching the home multiple times, prompting an alarmed father to eventually step outside.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The fans gave him a sarcastic slow-clap, prompting him to wave his arms in encouragement.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
In San Jose Unified, enrollment has fallen roughly 20% over the past eight years, prompting officials to consider closing nine of its 41 schools next year.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026
The proposal is prompting unease from insurers as well as health policy and legal experts, who are concerned about the legality of OPM acquiring such a sweeping database of sensitive health information, and the agency’s ability to safeguard it.
—CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
San Diego’s budget crisis is prompting city officials to consider softening their policy on minimum financial reserves despite a new comparison study showing most similar cities already have more money socked away.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
And despite promises that more files were going to become public, the Justice Department in July said no more would be released, prompting Congress to pass a bill to force the agency to do so.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Two barges and a vessel broke lose on the Beaver River on April 2, 2026, with one of them getting stuck on a dam, prompting the temporary closure of two bridges.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
Recently, her kids, ages 11 and 15, participated in a school walkout in protest of ICE without any prompting from her.
—Adrienne Farr, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Without any prompting from leadership, there was much discussion in the hallways that Netflix made the right call to exert financial discipline and not get caught up in the hunt.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
In 2016, Arnold went to rehab for alcohol addiction, at the prompting of country singer Charlie Daniels.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 Feb. 2026
The skill of the future is real-time prompting, including excelling at steering an AI’s output during a live brainstorm.
—David Henkin, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
On the same day, at Southside Presbyterian Church, in Tucson, Arizona, a similar press conference was held at the prompting of an eccentric goat herder named Jim Corbett, who had been sheltering refugees for the past year and had turned to the church for help.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
Thanks to the miracle of intellectual property, free-enterprise and the prompting of a brilliant record executive, this unlikely collaboration brought together artists and professionals from very different walks of life—shattering geographic, racial, age and faith boundaries.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
All of them gave concerning answers with minimal prompting.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Nov. 2025
James competed on American Idol season 18 in 2020, originally under the name Sophia Wackerman before changing her surname at the prompting of the judges.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
In August 2025, Border Patrol agents opened fire on Francisco Longoria, his son and 23-year-old son-in-law after breaking the driver’s side window of his truck, prompting him to drive off.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
According to footage capturing one of the encounters, the suspect appeared to pray in the family’s driveway before approaching the home multiple times, prompting an alarmed father to eventually step outside.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The fans gave him a sarcastic slow-clap, prompting him to wave his arms in encouragement.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
In San Jose Unified, enrollment has fallen roughly 20% over the past eight years, prompting officials to consider closing nine of its 41 schools next year.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026
The proposal is prompting unease from insurers as well as health policy and legal experts, who are concerned about the legality of OPM acquiring such a sweeping database of sensitive health information, and the agency’s ability to safeguard it.
—CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
San Diego’s budget crisis is prompting city officials to consider softening their policy on minimum financial reserves despite a new comparison study showing most similar cities already have more money socked away.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
And despite promises that more files were going to become public, the Justice Department in July said no more would be released, prompting Congress to pass a bill to force the agency to do so.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Two barges and a vessel broke lose on the Beaver River on April 2, 2026, with one of them getting stuck on a dam, prompting the temporary closure of two bridges.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prompting
Noun
-
Once dismissed as a side hustle or vanity career, social media influencing has rapidly evolved into one of the most lucrative—and measurable—jobs in the modern economy.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
We are faced with a next generation of AI-enabled influencing that is readily undertaken on a massive scale.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease causing fever, respiratory symptoms and a characteristic rash and can sometimes have severe or fatal complications, especially in young children, according to WHO.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Within minutes, a dark brew of sewage, industrial waste, and stormwater was rising through basements and businesses, hospitals and the central rail station, knocking out power and causing a billion dollars in damage.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Destiny calls loudly as passionate Mars charges into your 9th House of Distance, urging you to attempt things that are literally or metaphorically far from your comfort zone.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The leaders of France, Spain and Finland and top European Union leaders all issued statements welcoming the two-week pause in fighting but urging swift negotiations to bring the war to a permanent end.—
Will Clark,
NBC news,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tuesday night’s elections further showed the swaying power that Latinx voters can have.—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The swaying of her rope made what was portrayed in the book even more vivid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Folk music à la Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen plays on repeat, creating a chill vibe for a crowd of regulars (many of who come twice a day).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The space was designed by her and her mother, Sabeen Khaliq, with the goal of creating tranquility.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Setting kind, consistent boundaries and encouraging independence helps kids develop important life skills and emotional regulation.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Clever Mercury in your sign trines lucky Jupiter in your 5th House of Delight, giving your words a playful glow and encouraging authentic self-expression.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the same way that Christ fasted to resist the tempting of the biblical adversary, many Christians are also called to fast and give up the temptations of their daily lives during Lent.—
Rin Velasco,
The Providence Journal,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The inclusion of Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant, further enhances productivity by assisting with tasks such as summarizing content, generating ideas, and navigating system settings.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
-
In a new letter to shareholders published Thursday, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy wrote that the new king of the Fortune 500 is now generating an annual run rate of $15 billion for the AI activities within its cloud computing unit.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prompting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prompting. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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