GOADING Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

goading

verb

present participle of goad

as in urging

to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action tried to goad me into auditioning for the play

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in poking

to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object goading the horse forward into the stall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of goading His Dahl is constantly goading people, driving them right up to the edge of their tolerance. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026 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 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 Agents made several arrests in supermarket parking lots and at tamale stands while goading angry residents who confronted them and threatening to unleash tear gas. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026 The mind thrills to imagine a genderless prophet among the brocades and buckskin breeches of Revolutionary America, weirding out the normies, sticking a flower in the barrel of a musket, and goading the new nation to let its hair down—literally. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 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 Christiaan Verbeek’s score is highly effective, ranging from ominous passages propelled by drums and goading percussion to turbulent strings steadily cranked up in intensity. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for goading

Verb

The backlash went beyond online and reached political figures like New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who sent The Met committee a letter urging them to reconsider honoring Galliano.

— Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
The criticism then broadened, with Jewish leaders, museum donors and New York politicians publicly urging the museum to reconsider.

— Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of urging

Verb

Seething at his dad for poking at his body insecurities, the comedian dealt with his emotions like any good millennial — by podcasting about it.

— Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Wear the fall wardrobe staple layered, like Brinkley did under a cardigan with the lace poking through, or style it on its own when the weather is a little warmer.

— Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of poking

Verb

Historically, the United States has sent mixed messages to Europeans, encouraging them to step up but then scolding them for seeking autonomy.

— JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
The scarcity itself became part of the appeal, encouraging moviegoers to attend early, return for later editions and share the collectibles online.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of encouraging

Verb

The report, which looked at other local attractions like the annual Bonnaroo music festival, credited the park with creating more than 23,000 jobs in the region and spurring more airline traffic during peak season.

— Rachel Siegel, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Nvidia’s second-quarter earnings are spurring a rally in its stock price.

— Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of spurring

Verb

But the forces prodding Shin to boost rates are increasingly affecting Fed policy decisions.

— William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
But economic and political pressures, both domestic and international, have been prodding policymakers to rethink the path and the pace of getting there.

— Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of prodding

Verb

The California woman who fled to Mexico after fatally stabbing her wife, a captain with the state’s wildland firefighting agency, was sentenced this week to 36 years to life in prison, officials said.

— Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
In June 2018, McFatridge was accused of stabbing his mother with a spear, authorities have said.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of stabbing

Verb

In the film, ex-girlfriend Jill Jones reportedly accused Prince of repeatedly punching her in 1984.

— Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
One recent City Series game at Wrigley also had three arrests and included viral brawl that many Cubs fans blamed on Sox fans, though video showed a guy in a Cubs jersey was punching a guy in a Cubs jersey as well.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of punching

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goaded

goading

goads

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“Goading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goading. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of goading

verb

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