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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of goad
Kathryn Vanarendonk,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025
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
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
But the Stars should be trying to goad the Wild into foolish penalties.
—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for goad
Noun
The catchphrase is also a goad.
—
Kathryn Vanarendonk,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025
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
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
But the Stars should be trying to goad the Wild into foolish penalties.
—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for goad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goad
Noun
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The state has also earmarked $1 billion in incentives to lure the Chicago Bears to Hammond.
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The president’s willingness to offer sanctions relief and other incentives will need to be part of an eventual deal.
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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The analysts said recent talks between Japan and the Philippines over overlapping claims in their exclusive economic zones east of Taiwan may have been the impetus for the MSA mission east of Tawain.
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The impetus behind launching its agentic commerce platform lies in the changes in how consumers shop.
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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After Emii’s killing, Bland stabbed and attempted to shoot herself but was unable to because of the extent of her injuries, Handfield said, after the voices in her head were giving her those commands.
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If you are stabbed in the neck outside a LA restaurant, pray Amy Adams is dining at the same establishment.
Noun
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To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the center of our lives, the source of wisdom, strength, encouragement, and unconditional love.
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Moreover, what moves women forward is action rather than encouragement.
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 3 Jul. 2026.
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