as in influencing
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1
as in causing
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)
a misguided pride prompted the family to refuse all offers of help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urging
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
prompted the reluctant performer onto the stage with loud cheers and whistles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prompting
Adrienne Farr, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Without any prompting from leadership, there was much discussion in the hallways that Netflix made the right call to exert financial discipline and not get caught up in the hunt.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
In 2016, Arnold went to rehab for alcohol addiction, at the prompting of country singer Charlie Daniels.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 Feb. 2026
The skill of the future is real-time prompting, including excelling at steering an AI’s output during a live brainstorm.
—David Henkin, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
On the same day, at Southside Presbyterian Church, in Tucson, Arizona, a similar press conference was held at the prompting of an eccentric goat herder named Jim Corbett, who had been sheltering refugees for the past year and had turned to the church for help.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
Thanks to the miracle of intellectual property, free-enterprise and the prompting of a brilliant record executive, this unlikely collaboration brought together artists and professionals from very different walks of life—shattering geographic, racial, age and faith boundaries.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
All of them gave concerning answers with minimal prompting.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Nov. 2025
James competed on American Idol season 18 in 2020, originally under the name Sophia Wackerman before changing her surname at the prompting of the judges.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
And despite promises that more files were going to become public, the Justice Department in July said no more would be released, prompting Congress to pass a bill to force the agency to do so.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
In December, a satellite deployed from a Chinese rocket also risked colliding with a Starlink sat, prompting SpaceX to call for better coordination in the aerospace industry.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
After a harsh winter, potholes are emerging across Philadelphia, frustrating drivers and prompting city officials to push for new solutions.
—Ross Dimattei, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
In mid-March, an Israeli airstrike on an apartment in the town of Aramoun killed three people, prompting some local residents to call for the displaced to leave the area.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Some lawyers in Texas have spoken out in criticism of a judge who was seen on video in a tense exchange with an IT worker, prompting an escalating, unusual and public feud.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
The suspect then fled, prompting officers to initiate a pursuit.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Oroz did not make a statement during the hearing and kept his gaze lowered throughout, including while a video was played in court featuring photos and video clips of the boy’s life, prompting Superior Court Judge Daniel Link to tell Oroz to look up and watch the video.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
Recently, her kids, ages 11 and 15, participated in a school walkout in protest of ICE without any prompting from her.
—Adrienne Farr, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Without any prompting from leadership, there was much discussion in the hallways that Netflix made the right call to exert financial discipline and not get caught up in the hunt.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
In 2016, Arnold went to rehab for alcohol addiction, at the prompting of country singer Charlie Daniels.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 Feb. 2026
The skill of the future is real-time prompting, including excelling at steering an AI’s output during a live brainstorm.
—David Henkin, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
On the same day, at Southside Presbyterian Church, in Tucson, Arizona, a similar press conference was held at the prompting of an eccentric goat herder named Jim Corbett, who had been sheltering refugees for the past year and had turned to the church for help.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2026
Thanks to the miracle of intellectual property, free-enterprise and the prompting of a brilliant record executive, this unlikely collaboration brought together artists and professionals from very different walks of life—shattering geographic, racial, age and faith boundaries.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
All of them gave concerning answers with minimal prompting.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Nov. 2025
James competed on American Idol season 18 in 2020, originally under the name Sophia Wackerman before changing her surname at the prompting of the judges.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
KitKat is asking for the public's help after thieves made off with 12 tons of the company's chocolate — prompting the launch of a new tracking tool to help locate the missing shipment.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
And despite promises that more files were going to become public, the Justice Department in July said no more would be released, prompting Congress to pass a bill to force the agency to do so.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
In December, a satellite deployed from a Chinese rocket also risked colliding with a Starlink sat, prompting SpaceX to call for better coordination in the aerospace industry.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
After a harsh winter, potholes are emerging across Philadelphia, frustrating drivers and prompting city officials to push for new solutions.
—Ross Dimattei, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
In mid-March, an Israeli airstrike on an apartment in the town of Aramoun killed three people, prompting some local residents to call for the displaced to leave the area.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Some lawyers in Texas have spoken out in criticism of a judge who was seen on video in a tense exchange with an IT worker, prompting an escalating, unusual and public feud.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
The suspect then fled, prompting officers to initiate a pursuit.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Oroz did not make a statement during the hearing and kept his gaze lowered throughout, including while a video was played in court featuring photos and video clips of the boy’s life, prompting Superior Court Judge Daniel Link to tell Oroz to look up and watch the video.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prompting
Noun
-
Once dismissed as a side hustle or vanity career, social media influencing has rapidly evolved into one of the most lucrative—and measurable—jobs in the modern economy.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
We are faced with a next generation of AI-enabled influencing that is readily undertaken on a massive scale.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The waterway, a critical shipping route, has essentially been closed for the duration of the conflict, causing a supply glut in the oil market that has sent prices skyrocketing.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Iran also has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint through which 20% of the world's oil normally flows, causing fuel prices to soar and other economic tumult.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On Sunday morning, Haidar Abdul-Samad, deputy director of Basra’s Shalamcha border crossing with Iran, was on the phone with an Iranian official, complaining about electricity cuts that had halted trade, urging a quick resolution.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In a video lesson, psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk emphasizes the importance of compassion when interacting with trauma survivors, highlighting that seemingly negative behaviors may be coping mechanisms for deep emotional pain and urging us to consider their struggles before passing judgment.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tuesday night’s elections further showed the swaying power that Latinx voters can have.—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The swaying of her rope made what was portrayed in the book even more vivid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
On the Island of the Gods, fresh ideas arrive like waves, creating a glorious cocktail of cultures and influences.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
One recalled how their oldest child once pushed an unplugged vacuum cleaner across the living room, carefully creating vacuum lines without actually cleaning anything.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Setting kind, consistent boundaries and encouraging independence helps kids develop important life skills and emotional regulation.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Clever Mercury in your sign trines lucky Jupiter in your 5th House of Delight, giving your words a playful glow and encouraging authentic self-expression.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the same way that Christ fasted to resist the tempting of the biblical adversary, many Christians are also called to fast and give up the temptations of their daily lives during Lent.—
Rin Velasco,
The Providence Journal,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Below is a recap of the C-suite developments at America’s highest-revenue-generating companies announced between March 28–April 3, 2026, organized by sector.—
Fortune Editors,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Because developers are generating exponentially more tokens to drive performance and agentic behavior.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prompting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prompting. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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