prodding

verb

present participle of prod
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

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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

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 prodding 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 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 While a prodding journalist like me might try to get the chatbots to veer off course, the ordinary user probably won’t notice a difference. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Renowned Chilean filmmaker Valeria Sarmiento has a long history of prodding at memory in her films. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 9 July 2026 Payton now will be in the Parcells role, a Super Bowl-winning coach with an endless reservoir of experience pushing and prodding a young assistant with clear potential and the edge that comes with it. — Joseph Person, New York Times, 24 June 2026 The steady march of progress, as demonstrated by these latest research papers, is prodding organizations with the most to lose to err on the side of Q Day—the day a cryptographically relevant quantum computer arrives—coming sooner rather than later. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2026 The song is a reflection of the pressure on Joel to follow up on his success in the late 70s, and the prodding synthesizer riff adds to the claustrophobic nature of the tune. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodding
  1. poking
  2. urging
  3. digging
  4. encouraging
  5. spurring
  6. nudging
  7. stabbing
  8. goading
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
  • 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
  • With little in the way of young players or draft capital aside from Wagler, scoring a big star in free agency is probably their best hope of digging themselves out of this mess in the next decade or so.
    — John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The company had sent heavy machinery to the site, an undeveloped valley in northeast Independence, a month earlier to start tilling the earth and digging runoff ponds.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of digging
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
  • Fashion has actually been nudging us in this direction for a while.
    — Georgia Brown, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2026
  • This is an uncomplicated yarn about a man prying open his heart and nudging other hard nuts to do the same.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of nudging
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
  • 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
Definition of goading

Browse Nearby Words

prodders
prodding
prodigal
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Cite this Entry

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

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