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
Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
Ganni has historically occupied a clearly accessible contemporary positioning, but its elevation strategy has nudged it upward without fully redefining what the brand stands for.
—Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026
Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026
This wasn’t a gentle nudge into the next phase of life.
—Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Verb
The hormone, in turn, nudges the brain back toward waking once the night’s repair work is done.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
Ganni has historically occupied a clearly accessible contemporary positioning, but its elevation strategy has nudged it upward without fully redefining what the brand stands for.
—Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
Some hatchlings bolted straight for the surf, while a few needed a gentle nudge from the marine team.
—Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026
This wasn’t a gentle nudge into the next phase of life.
—Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudge
Verb
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When tetraploid and diploid plants are crossed, pollen from the diploids is brushed onto the stigmas of the tetraploids.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
-
Along one wall, swatches of fabric hang in dense, vertical layers—florals brushing against checks, brocades against stripes—forming a kind of working tapestry.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
7 May 2026
Verb
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But Sam Schoenburg, a member of the 19th Police District Council, also on the North Side, urged aldermen to move ahead with the vote.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
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While there have been no reports of illness, authorities urge people to contact a health care provider for any concerns.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Verdier says the increasing regulation in the car industry and the push to move away from fossil fuels are part of the reason why Ferrari is so enthusiastic about this project.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
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The vote was the latest move in a broader push to remove police officers from traffic enforcement.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Alisoun has previously tricked Absalom into kissing her butt by sticking it out the window just as Absalom leaned in, intent on kissing her other cheek.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
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Berrios-Otero then allegedly kissed the child’s head, pulled him closer and put his hand back under the blanket, the warrant affidavits said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Officials also encourage businesses to give customers a glimpse of how dim sum is made through live-streaming.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
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Becerra proposes to require cities and counties to approve or deny building permits within 90 days, loosening certain regulations for infill projects and reforming construction defect laws to encourage more construction of entry-level condos.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Here, witches are real — and so are jerks.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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The passengers include the requisite obnoxious jerk, Dan (Angus Sampson), already throwing his weight around and breaking no-smoking rules at LAX.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The demonstration also touched on various issues that Americans have been facing including the rising cost of food and gas due in part to tariffs, the war in Iran and immigration sweeps that experts have said contributed to a shortage of agricultural workers.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
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One with Ayo Edebiri, which touched on topics like the Chinatown bus and Ocean’s Eleven.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudge. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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