nudged

verb

past tense of nudge
1
as in brushed
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing accidentally nudged me as they squeezed past

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urged
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action the car salesman nudged me into taking a test-drive, even though I had said that I was just looking

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 nudged In a normal rom-com, this is where Jack would exit stage left as the martyr who nudged Wendy toward her true soulmate. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 This nudged Bentley toward using sound made by living beings, rather than something synthesized. — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026 American buyers have spent years being nudged toward ever-larger crossovers and SUVs, while small hatchbacks have gradually disappeared from the mainstream. — New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026 Every lever that once nudged wealth toward charity has grown weaker. — Vandana Arcot, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 Yes, Governor Kazuo Ueda nudged rates to a 31‑year high of 1% in mid‑June. — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 No team has embraced the Rubik’s Cube nature of the three-team trade like the Rays, who have nudged their way into five of the past six three-way swaps. — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 23 July 2026 Egypt is up 1-0 after a header from Yasser Ibrahim, who nudged the ball into the net off a fantastic cross from Marawan Attia in the 15th minute. — Nbc News, NBC news, 7 July 2026 Pašalić had nudged the ball across goal after being picked out by a cross from wide. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudged
  1. brushed
  2. urged
  3. kissed
  4. encouraged
Verb
  • There’s so little cohesion from week to week that last episode’s dramatic cliffhanger — Susan in handcuffs after Rhonda accuses her of kidnapping — is brushed off in an aside in the opening scene.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Leonard would not talk about the allegations during the 2025-26 NBA season because the investigation was ongoing and brushed it off during media day last September.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of brushed
Verb
  • At the start of the year, top DHS officials, including Mullin, urged lawmakers to provide funding specifically for purchasing more body cameras and training officers on how to use them.
    — Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Those with information on his whereabouts are urged to contact Ryde Police Station or Crime Stoppers.
    — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of urged
Verb
  • On a recent day, Ramadhan’s oldest child, not even 3, kissed the twins on the cheeks and recognized a photo of their mother.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The tacos feature za’atar rubbed swordfish kissed by a wood-burning grill, dabbed with tangy pools of labne and a salsa arabe, similar to harissa.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of kissed
Verb
  • More than a decade ago, the two researchers were introduced by their mutual boss, the chancellor at UCSF, who encouraged them to collaborate.
    — Pien Huang, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
  • As Brown ramped back up this summer, he and the team were encouraged by his progress.
    — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of encouraged

Browse Nearby Words

nudge
nudged
nudges
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Cite this Entry

“Nudged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudged. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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