as in incentives
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in urges
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goads
Noun
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Through the initiative, the group was tasked with recruiting and retaining housing providers through financial incentives, creating a broader network of potential homes for people in need.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2025 -
The financial incentives can quell those concerns.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Experience urges two measures of caution for every one of hope.—
Nick Danby,
National Review,
20 Dec. 2024
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Morrison’s commentary urges us to realize that liberation from white supremacist, patriarchal constructs isn’t possible through enrollment in yet another white supremacist, patriarchal construct.—
Akilah Sailers,
Essence,
19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But Min-su ends up hyperventilating as Nam-gyu stabs her to death anyway.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
26 Dec. 2024
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After he's caught red-handed, the pilot goes to confront him when the captain stabs him before throwing him overboard.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Pruning also stimulates branching, which encourages more flowers.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2025
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For example, generative AI might provide you with an essay that glorifies a particular addiction or could engage in a dialogue that encourages you to become addicted to this or that addictive substance or non-substance.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Beneath southeast Iceland, a column of molten rock—known as a hot spot—spurs even more eruptions.—
Joe Spring,
Smithsonian Magazine,
20 Dec. 2024
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That spurs the humpbacks to lunge into the air to collect the small fish, creating the iconic imagery.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The series pokes fun at musical tropes and also has hilarious songs of its own.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
23 Mar. 2025
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During anagen, the hair follicle will produce a new shaft–the part of the follicle that pokes above the skin.—
RJ Mackenzie,
Popular Science,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Frozen, isolated, because of someone else’s dark motivations.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2025
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The motivations driving Theroux’s slippery character are harder to read, which feels right, as well.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Goads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goads. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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