goad 1 of 2

noun

Definition of goadnext
as in incentive
something that arouses action or activity the threat of skin cancer—not to mention the prospect of wrinkles—should be sufficient goad for using sunscreen

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

goad

2 of 2

verb

ˈgōd How to pronounce goad (audio)
1
as in to urge
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to spur
to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object goading the horse forward into the stall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun goad contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of goad are impulse, incentive, inducement, motive, and spur. While all these words mean "a stimulus to action," goad suggests a motive that keeps one going against one's will or desire.

thought insecurity a goad to worker efficiency

In what contexts can impulse take the place of goad?

The synonyms impulse and goad are sometimes interchangeable, but impulse suggests a driving power arising from personal temperament or constitution.

buying on impulse

When can incentive be used instead of goad?

While the synonyms incentive and goad are close in meaning, incentive applies to an external influence (such as an expected reward) inciting to action.

a bonus was offered as an incentive

When is it sensible to use inducement instead of goad?

While in some cases nearly identical to goad, inducement suggests a motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another.

offered a watch as an inducement to subscribe

Where would motive be a reasonable alternative to goad?

The words motive and goad can be used in similar contexts, but motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act.

a motive for the crime

When might spur be a better fit than goad?

The meanings of spur and goad largely overlap; however, spur applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy or ardor.

fear was a spur to action

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 goad
Noun
Democrats bashing tariffs can backfire as Trump goads rivals, David Sirota argues Founder and editor in chief of The Lever David Sirota explains why President Trump’s trade war is a political trap for Democrats. —The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025 Their plot thickens when Davis goads Staten into taking a swing at him. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
Once again, the creators of South Park seem to be actively goading the White House and President Trump into some kind of a response. —Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025 There’s something faintly undignified about a president of the United States being goaded by a minor Russian official into making nuclear threats on social media. —Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for goad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goad
  1. incentive
  2. urge
  3. spur
  4. impetus
  5. encourage
  6. stab
  7. encouragement
  8. nudge
Noun
  • The projects received millions in state and local tax incentives after promising to create thousands of new jobs.
    — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Both the Kansas and Missouri legislatures have extended the team’s incentive package deadlines to give them more time to make a decision.
    — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of incentive
Verb
  • Plaintiffs, including people who benefited from the legal protections, urged the appeals court to endorse the district court ruling, which found that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem could not categorically end protections for these groups, but instead had to evaluate each case individually.
    — Michael Casey, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Ficco urged those who sports bet to use reputable online big platforms, do research about where people deposit their money and be cautious.
    — Patricio Chile, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of urge
Verb
  • That spurred a rally in bonds as investors sought safe havens and ramped up bets that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this week.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Since George Floyd’s 2020 murder spurred a public reckoning, including in the art world, Chiu has helped the Crocker acquire more than 100 works.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of spur
Noun
  • The special teams element is a benefit of the move more than the impetus.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
  • That’s really what was the first impetus for getting this to be a continuing project.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of impetus
Verb
  • Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances.
    — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The Associated Press reported that Robinson’s father recognized his son from the images released by law enforcement, and then encouraged his son to turn himself in.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of encourage
Verb
  • Late last month, Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed on a train in North Carolina.
    — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Instead, 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack while riding a Charlotte, North Carolina, light rail train home from work.
    — Peter D'Abrosca , Stepheny Price , Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of stab
Noun
  • While the movement has yet to gain traction on this side of the pond, Americans have needed little outside encouragement to get in on the secondhand shopping trend, both online, led by marketplaces like ThredUp and The Real Real, and in thrift stores.
    — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Pym was in need of encouragement.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of encouragement
Verb
  • To manage the thousands of people who descend daily, operators have studied visitors’ behavior and engineered their parks to move people around without anyone realizing they’re being nudged.
    — Bianca Bosker, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Sure, word warfare can nudge us on some issues – like yea or nay on a state infrastructure initiative or a county sales tax or a school district bond.
    — Sarah Stein Lubrano, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of nudge

Browse Nearby Words

go
goad
goaded
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Cite this Entry

“Goad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goad. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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