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
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Recent Examples of nudge
ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
This perspective helps explain why small changes in choice environments – nudges such as placing salad bars directly in cafeteria serving lines or listing vegetarian options first on menus – can significantly shift behavior without forcing anyone to choose differently.
—Alejandro Hortal-Sánchez, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 17 Mar. 2026
So time to give it a nudge in a better direction by firing up the kettle for a cup of stimulation.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Verb
But that respite was short-lived, with the price of Brent crude, the international standard, nudging back over $100 a barrel Tuesday, up nearly 40% since the war started.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
This perspective helps explain why small changes in choice environments – nudges such as placing salad bars directly in cafeteria serving lines or listing vegetarian options first on menus – can significantly shift behavior without forcing anyone to choose differently.
—Alejandro Hortal-Sánchez, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
Others need the nudge from policymakers.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 17 Mar. 2026
So time to give it a nudge in a better direction by firing up the kettle for a cup of stimulation.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudge
Verb
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Guerrero brushed her sister’s hair.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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As Ember brushed past to turn on the lamp, one of the sheets came unstuck and fluttered out into the hallway, caught in her slight draft.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a statement, the Stop Aurora Pit Bull Ban Team, a group that advocated for repealing the city's breed-specific ban, urged caution in drawing conclusions about the incident.—
Tori Mason,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Millions of citizens across Europe have been urged to work from home and drive less amid the energy crisis caused by the Iran war.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Heat made a third-quarter push to get back into the game, putting together its own impressive shooting display in the period.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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That push is feeding debate on whether those potentially risky assets belong in retirement accounts.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Xavier kisses his wife and son, sends them on their way above ground, and goes after Presley.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
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Boozer caught up to Ball at the rim, but the guard muscled his way toward the bucket anyway, kissing the ball of the glass to score and draw an and one.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Saturn in your companionable 7th house is encouraging Pluto in your playful 5th house, so the energy of these cosmic powerhouses should be a little less hard to handle and a lot more fun!—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Mar. 2026
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Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Dishes like jerk chicken and rice and beans cooked in coconut milk reflect the region’s deep Jamaican and British colonial influences that are distinctive from other parts of Costa Rica.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
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Highlights include crab cakes, Napoleon, jerk chicken and waffles, lobster rolls, Florida Croque Madame, oxtail pasta, coquito French toast, tiramisu and more.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In Joachim Trier's touching drama (which won the best international feature Oscar), Stellan Skarsgård stars as an aging filmmaker making a comeback movie inspired by his family.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
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The New York Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would not only reduce plastic packaging, but also phase out 17 toxic chemicals and substances — including phthalates and bisphenols — that touches our food and beverages.—
Shanna Swan,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudge. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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