nudge 1 of 2

verb

ˈnəj How to pronounce nudge (audio)
Definition of nudgenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nudge

2 of 2

noun

as in push

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nudge
Verb
Instead, Washington would use its SWF to identify priorities in commercial technology and nudge U.S. startups toward those goals—combining the interests of the nation with the dynamism and innovation of private investors. — Steve Bowsher, Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 2025 Trump tried to nudge him toward some actual news items. — Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2025 Perhaps our bee friend will nudge it out of the way. — New York Times Games, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025 Lindholm nudged him back, just before Morgan Geekie ripped the tying one-timer into the net with 1:11 remaining in regulation. — Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudge
  1. brush
  2. urge
  3. push
  4. kiss
  5. encourage
  6. jerk
  7. touch
Verb
  • Southwest brushed off Frontier’s latest promotion and highlighted its larger network.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The Sacramento native recently appeared in the indie drama The Last Showgirl (2024), alongside Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis and brushed off her sitcom chops in Netflix’s basketball comedy Running Point (2025–present), starring Kate Hudson.
    — Skyler Trepel, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of brush
Verb
  • Driving the news: The NTSB, in an urgent safety recommendation report, urged the FAA to prohibit helicopters from flying near DCA when runways 15 and 33 are in use.
    — Avery Lotz, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Drivers are urged to limit their journeys, take public transport, or car-share to help bring pollution levels down.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of urge
Noun
  • Roughly 47% of the 800 likely voters who participated in the poll earlier this month supported the construction of new pipelines into the state, while 37% preferred a complete push to renewables.
    — Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Though, federal court action has paused the White House's push to deport him.
    — Axios, Axios, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of push
Verb
  • 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
  • The trainer turns and kisses one of the man-eaters on the nose.
    — Holly Millea, Smithsonian, 29 June 2017
Definition of kiss
Verb
  • On the positive side, the increase in applications from students of color and the growing diversity of the applicant pool are encouraging signs of progress toward more significant equity in higher education.
    — Scott White, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Perhaps more importantly, trade war concerns have had a bigger hold on the market: Stocks have tumbled this week despite encouraging inflation data .
    — Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of encourage
Noun
  • What a jerk! Neagley fares better, dispatching two button men sent to kill her in her Windy City high-rise office.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
  • If anyone other than Rudd were playing her selfish dad, audiences would be actively rooting for the jerk to get ’corned.
    — Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Target – whose RSI is 16.8 – lost about 9% this week, touching a 52-week low on Friday and bringing its year-to-date decline to nearly 23%.
    — Sean Conlon, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The guest room design is sleek, modern, and heavily influenced by Galán's original work, blending art deco touches with Andaz's signature pink embellishments.
    — Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of touch

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Cite this Entry

“Nudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudge. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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