1
as in brushed
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 urged
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 nudged
Life, however, nudged her back into the spotlight.
—
Bryan West, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Roan nudged aside Sabrina Carpenter to win the Grammy for best new artist last February.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Short bursts of sound waves nudged the kink a few disks at a time toward the sound source.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
Even before Israel’s killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, nudged Hezbollah into action, the ceasefire appeared to be on the brink of collapse.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
For a typical high school class, the researchers estimate grade inflation can shave about $213,000 off the group’s future earnings, or roughly $150 a year for each letter grade quietly nudged up.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
The couple famously nudged the designer beyond his usual earthy minimalism, encouraging bolder, more playful touches—a shift that subtly carries through this East End retreat.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026
The event gently nudged attendees to continue focusing on wellness and self-care.
—Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
Even when the results didn’t turn the Lakers way, the effort plays from stars and non-stars alike, nudged them toward their fifth straight victory ahead of the start of a six-game trip starting with the fourth-place Houston Rockets (41-25) on Monday.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Bryan West, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Roan nudged aside Sabrina Carpenter to win the Grammy for best new artist last February.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Short bursts of sound waves nudged the kink a few disks at a time toward the sound source.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
Even before Israel’s killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, nudged Hezbollah into action, the ceasefire appeared to be on the brink of collapse.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
For a typical high school class, the researchers estimate grade inflation can shave about $213,000 off the group’s future earnings, or roughly $150 a year for each letter grade quietly nudged up.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
The couple famously nudged the designer beyond his usual earthy minimalism, encouraging bolder, more playful touches—a shift that subtly carries through this East End retreat.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026
The event gently nudged attendees to continue focusing on wellness and self-care.
—Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
Even when the results didn’t turn the Lakers way, the effort plays from stars and non-stars alike, nudged them toward their fifth straight victory ahead of the start of a six-game trip starting with the fourth-place Houston Rockets (41-25) on Monday.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudged
Verb
-
Guerrero brushed her sister’s hair.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
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
-
Anyone with information is urged to call the Sacramento Police Department at (916) 808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357).—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Gettleman urged the government to find ways to reach a settlement that would enable ongoing access, consistent with what has historically been the regular practice.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Miranda Hope seemingly confirmed the rumor that the newly single Jessi Draper kissed her ex-husband, Chase McWhorter, at a party over the weekend.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2026
-
After splitting two defenders to bury a 35-footer at the buzzer to end the third quarter for a 91-72 lead, the point guard again kissed his fingers, sending the crowd into a frenzy.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some players encouraged the 49ers to investigate, but Lynch noted that it was not broached by anyone who joined the team in the past few weeks since free agency opened, including wide receiver Mike Evans.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
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Students should be encouraged to think historically, Zavala said, and to approach larger themes of colonization, erasure, power and to reflect on the way movements are shaped and the contradictions that occur within them.—
Kristy Hutchings,
Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudged. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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