1
as in kisses
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing
accidentally nudged me as they squeezed past
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urges
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
the car salesman nudged me into taking a test-drive, even though I had said that I was just looking
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nudges
Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
Once repair is complete, growth hormone activates a brainstem region called the locus coeruleus, which gently nudges you toward waking.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
As Benson continues asking questions about the victim, Jasmyn nudges a sign that shows her prices for autographs and pictures and says that her time is valuable.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Doing so activates the vagus nerve and nudges the nervous system from fight-or-flight back toward rest.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 10 Apr. 2026
Team priorities could collide as the concerned Moon in your 11th House of Aspirations nudges reckless Mars in your 5th House of Risks.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
This perspective helps explain why small changes in choice environments – nudges such as placing salad bars directly in cafeteria serving lines or listing vegetarian options first on menus – can significantly shift behavior without forcing anyone to choose differently.
—Alejandro Hortal-Sánchez, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Commitments may need clearer promises, especially as the Moon in your tender 8th house nudges Jupiter in your busy 2nd house.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
Everyday exchanges feel softer as romantic Venus kisses elusive Neptune in your 3rd House of Contact, which nudges you to speak from the heart.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
The hormone, in turn, nudges the brain back toward waking once the night’s repair work is done.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
Once repair is complete, growth hormone activates a brainstem region called the locus coeruleus, which gently nudges you toward waking.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
As Benson continues asking questions about the victim, Jasmyn nudges a sign that shows her prices for autographs and pictures and says that her time is valuable.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Doing so activates the vagus nerve and nudges the nervous system from fight-or-flight back toward rest.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 10 Apr. 2026
Team priorities could collide as the concerned Moon in your 11th House of Aspirations nudges reckless Mars in your 5th House of Risks.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
This perspective helps explain why small changes in choice environments – nudges such as placing salad bars directly in cafeteria serving lines or listing vegetarian options first on menus – can significantly shift behavior without forcing anyone to choose differently.
—Alejandro Hortal-Sánchez, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Commitments may need clearer promises, especially as the Moon in your tender 8th house nudges Jupiter in your busy 2nd house.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
Everyday exchanges feel softer as romantic Venus kisses elusive Neptune in your 3rd House of Contact, which nudges you to speak from the heart.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudges
Verb
-
The kiss in question came during a scene outside a movie theater, where Winslet's character, Hulme, kisses Jackson's unnamed character in excitement.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
His son Bret recalled his father’s postgame smiles, hugs and kisses with his wife of 58 years Debbie.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Imagine that, without any apparent reason to do so, the AI urges users to do a smackdown.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
The report urges Sacramento to follow San Francisco and Berkeley in restricting non-moving violation enforcement.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The robot eventually gained the ability to walk forward and backward while maintaining balance after minor pushes.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
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In 2027 and beyond, dozens of red and blue states could set off redistricting pushes of their own.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tokyo Stylez, Cardi’s hairstylist, brushes out a sleek brown hairpiece, and Erika la’ pearl, her makeup artist, dabs at Cardi’s face while the rapper scrolls through her phone, controlling the music.—
Jazmine Hughes,
Allure,
24 Mar. 2026
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When some chime in to say their doctors had been cautiously optimistic about treatments, Sarah brushes that aside.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Responding to comments, asking for feedback, and giving shout-outs to active viewers fosters a sense of community and encourages continued engagement.—
Adam Rumanek,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2026
-
The moon in Taurus encourages you to go with the flow and stop forcing an outcome.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Here, witches are real — and so are jerks.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All of this goes down before even one Louboutin touches the surgically clean white marble floor or ultra-plush Yves Klein blue carpet within the monumental lobby.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
-
Other notable moments include the return of the original theme song, sung by Raya Yarbrough; the closing of the loop from the pilot episode, showing Jamie was the man outside Claire’s window watching her; and the beautiful forget-me-nots growing near the stones after Jamie touches one.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Noun
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There's nothing better than heading home from a trip with goodies, including local jams, veggies, and treats.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
11 May 2026
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Their tart stalks are staples in sweet dishes, such as pies, jams, and crumbles, but can also be used in savory dishes and even beverages.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudges. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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