PROD Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

prod 1 of 2

verb

ˈpräd

Definition of prod

as in to poke

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

as in to urge

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

prod

2 of 2

noun

as in stimulus

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

subduing

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 prod

Verb

Trump publicly prodded the Health secretary for an update on autism research in a Cabinet meeting last month. — Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 The White House also couldn’t resist prodding Swift when the singer married Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden, unleashing a series of memes on the day of the wedding in July. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2026

Noun

The cutbacks are going far beyond a friendly prod to boost NATO defense spending. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 This one came on an innocent prod at the basketball, a tap that occurred a solid 85 feet away from the hoop on which his assignment, Jalen Brunson, hoped to score. — Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prod

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prod

Verb

Polymarket dropped him like a hot potato, though, once the CFTC began poking into his suspicious Kalshi bets.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 2 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of poke

Verb

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
The Sierra Club emailed notices to members last week urging them to enter the permit lottery again.

— Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of urge

Noun

Shape-memory polymers can be programmed to return to a particular shape after exposure to a stimulus, often heat.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Surrounded by the healing landscape of the Sonoran Desert, the luxe getaway has welcomed travelers seeking to put aside digital overload and other overwhelming stimuli in order to reconnect with the best versions of themselves.

— Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of stimulus

Verb

The changes were spurred in large part by soaring real-estate prices and Italian families cashing in.

— Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026
Ossoff first voted to block weapons sales to Israel in November 2024, spurring a critical open letter from several Georgia Jewish organizations including synagogues, Jewish schools, the local Anti-Defamation League chapter and other groups.

— Joseph Strauss, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of spur

Verb

By taking stem cells from a host’s own body and encouraging them to differentiate before mixing them with a commercially available, soluble matrix gel, researchers may have cracked the most critical problems in the transplant process.

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
The bark can also be stripped from the branch, called girdling, which encourages faster root growth.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of encourage

Noun

There are also sessions of Cranio Sacral Balance, EmSella pelvic-floor activation, Exomind brain stimulation, lymphatic drainage, and physiotherapy.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2026
Rouben Madikians, a flight attendant of 40 years, recommends blocking out some of that stimulation instead.

— Brandon Schultz, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of stimulation

Verb

She had been beaten and stabbed inside her home, and her body was then placed in the trunk of her car.

— Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026
The 33-year-old man accused of killing his mother in their family’s apartment had stabbed his parent repeatedly in the face and chest, Bronx prosecutors said Friday.

— Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of stab

Verb

However, its growing mysteries nudge it, paradoxically, toward the literal, leaving it with few places to go.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
The Japanese 10-year yield rose 6 basis points on Tuesday to nudge above 3% for the first time since 1996 as investors eye fiscal pressures in the country’s upcoming budget.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of nudge

Browse Nearby Words

procuring

prod

prodded

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Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of prod

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

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