PRODDING Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

prodding

verb

present participle of prod

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

Relevance

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 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 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been vocal about prodding the BOJ to keep hiking. — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 19 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 Kuhner is a writer, and, a few months after his family arrived, neighbors started prodding him to take over the local bookstore, which was being sold. — Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodding

Verb

Carrington has previously garnered controversy for poking Cunningham's teammate Caitlin Clark in the eye during the 2024 playoffs, and making controversial statements in the media.

— Jackson Thompson , Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
At first glance, corals present as little more than colorful rocks — piles of lobes, stalagmites, and branches poking out from the seafloor.

— Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of poking

Verb

Some started a campaign on social media, urging users to call the authorities and tech companies to express their frustration.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
And after Postal Service changes earlier this year that affect how quickly mail is postmarked, some states are urging voters to be cautious when putting ballots in the mail at all.

— Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of urging

Verb

Talking Animals Books in Grapevine is leading the second annual event, encouraging book lovers to wander beyond Main Street and into the heart of the area's indie literary scene.

— CBS News Texas Staff, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
This year, for the first time in a decade, the tax code has largely stopped encouraging charitable giving on its own account, which leaves the payout floor no longer one safeguard among several, but the only one left.

— Vandana Arcot, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of encouraging

Verb

Suddenly, listings could reach far beyond the local neighborhood, nudging open the door to what had long been a niche corner of second-hand shopping.

— Zoey Goto, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2026
The instruments and rhythms dance with Lenae’s sinuous vocals, nudging her into odd pockets, uplifting her notes.

— Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of nudging

Verb

Martinez Police Department A suspect accused of fatally stabbing a man outside a California residence during a burglary a day after being released from custody has been charged with murder, officials said.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Jurors heard a harrowing voicemail left by Johnson begging one of her friends for help as Williams butchered her, stabbing her five times in the chest and four times in her back.

— John Annese, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 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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Style

“Prodding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodding. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of prodding

verb

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