1
as in to brush
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 to urge
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of nudge
Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
His son nudged Trump to appear on popular podcasts during the 2024 presidential campaign.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
Pressure to comply – Social and institutional forces nudge us toward compliance, especially in professional settings where defiance can risk reputational or career damage.
—Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
Often, though, life nudges us to stay put when Feb. 14 rolls around.
—Danny Heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Verb
One recent investigation found that, more and more, apps are nudging people to pay for perks—visibility boosts, unlimited likes—marketed as tools for finding love.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
His son nudged Trump to appear on popular podcasts during the 2024 presidential campaign.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
Pressure to comply – Social and institutional forces nudge us toward compliance, especially in professional settings where defiance can risk reputational or career damage.
—Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
Often, though, life nudges us to stay put when Feb. 14 rolls around.
—Danny Heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudge
Verb
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Earlier this month, Murray Auchincloss, BP’s current chief executive, brushed off an analyst’s question about reverting to a more normal approach to the Russian holding, noting that Rosneft remained under sanctions by more than a dozen countries.—
Stanley Reed,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
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While many dismiss this sort of movie fare, and many others brushed off a later-career showing from the Wayans, those who respect the parody’s never-taking-itself-too-seriously nature will find that Marlon Wayans still knew how to make a hilarious spoof into the 2010s and beyond.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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Even before the Irish journalist Fintan O’Toole urged his government to steal American scientists, Bromberg had already researched the cost of moving Gatsby, her 70-pound dog, from Columbus to Dublin: $8,000, or about one-quarter of a typical annual graduate salary.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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As part of that cash-savings push, his lieutenants have swept through numerous government agencies and President Donald Trump’s administration has fired thousands of federal employees.—
Joedy McCreary,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
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Thematically, there’s that push and pull of wanting to protect your kids from the world with your own [world].—
Brian Davids,
The Hollywood Reporter,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Busch and his team would love to pose for more pictures kissing the bricks at IMS following Sunday’s race.—
Clifton Brown,
Indianapolis Star,
17 July 2017
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The trainer turns and kisses one of the man-eaters on the nose.—
Holly Millea,
Smithsonian,
29 June 2017
Verb
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Provide opportunities for professional growth, encourage open feedback, and show appreciation for hard work.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr.,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
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Applications encouraged from people of color, women, and/or veterans 5.—
Shimite Obialo,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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With that put to bed, our attention turns back to the husbands, and all the new rumors from this season, like Lisa bringing up Shawn’s name in regards to circle jerks.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
29 Jan. 2025
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Diagnosed first with Jeavons syndrome in 2018/19—a rare form of epilepsy characterized by absence seizures and eyelid jerks—a 1,000-gene epilepsy panel in 2020 revealed further health problems.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Molloy said Wednesday that people who find debris in their yards should not touch it.—
Saleen Martin,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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In the footage, which is circulating on social media, a man is seen touching the fish and attempting to put the animal back in the water.—
Jessica Botelho,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudge. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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