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
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of goad
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
As if a primetime showdown between two of the biggest draws on the dial weren’t already a sufficient goad to get fannies on living room sofas, NBC’s NFL game features Micah Parsons in his first run-in with the team that traded him exactly one month ago.
—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
When the referee went down, Sikoa slid a chair in and tried to goad Keys into using it.
—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for goad
Noun
Meanwhile, Kyle and Lisa goad Allison the medium (who is getting drunker by the minute) to give them a psychic reading.
—
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
As if a primetime showdown between two of the biggest draws on the dial weren’t already a sufficient goad to get fannies on living room sofas, NBC’s NFL game features Micah Parsons in his first run-in with the team that traded him exactly one month ago.
—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
Having overseen the game tent for many years, Cornelius knew just the thing to say in order to goad the customers into buying tickets.
—
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
When the referee went down, Sikoa slid a chair in and tried to goad Keys into using it.
—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for goad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goad
Noun
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Nearly a year after the expiration of a $7,500 federal tax incentive for new electric vehicles, California is stepping in to try to motivate buyers to go electric.
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The attack shocked Monaco, a coastal playground for the rich and famous known for its tax-friendly incentives, royal family and Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Verb
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Your 10th House of Career and Status receives Jupiter, urging long-range vision and public progress that grows through structure.
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City officials are urging residents to take the heat seriously.
Verb
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The anchor believes his conversation with the musician will spur a broader one among the people who watch it.
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South Korea’s government and top tech companies are committing $1 trillion to several flagship megaprojects that could bolster global memory chip supply, build new AI data centers and spur commercial deployment of humanoid robots by 2028.
Noun
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Whether the impetus is to satisfy a desire for seclusion or to achieve the investment benefits that development allows, these three properties, triangulated across the globe, open up new frontiers and ways of living.
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Not much separated these two teams over 90 minutes, with limited attacking impetus and much of the game being played in midfield.
Verb
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Valentine also testified that the FDA encourages infant formula companies to send in all adverse event reports and that nothing prevented Mead Johnson from doing so.
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Going forward, the city will encourage data center developers to submit an application for a special use district, meaning the site would specifically be used for a data center, nothing else.
Verb
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Gabriel Garland, the Love Island UK Islander who was removed from the villa after being named in court documents in a stabbing incident, has broken his silence.
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Continue reading … CABIN CHAOS — Midair horror as passenger admits trying to stab stranger through the eye.
Noun
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Once all but deserted, the town experienced a revival in 1965, when artists and musicians began to flock there after encouragement from the Yugoslav government.
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Alexandria government roasted for absurd anti-fireworks tweet The government of Alexandria tweeted Wednesday a blunt warning about fireworks — and encouragement to snitch on your neighbors.
Verb
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The fans who remember watching them in the fictional town of Dillon, Texas, are now eager to nudge a new generation toward the show.
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Bing Thomas ran over to me and nudged Ted Waters aside.
Cite this Entry
“Goad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goad. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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