goad 1 of 2

noun

Definition of goadnext
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

goad

2 of 2

verb

ˈgōd How to pronounce goad (audio)
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to spur
to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object goading the horse forward into the stall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun goad contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of goad are impulse, incentive, inducement, motive, and spur. While all these words mean "a stimulus to action," goad suggests a motive that keeps one going against one's will or desire.

thought insecurity a goad to worker efficiency

In what contexts can impulse take the place of goad?

The synonyms impulse and goad are sometimes interchangeable, but impulse suggests a driving power arising from personal temperament or constitution.

buying on impulse

When can incentive be used instead of goad?

While the synonyms incentive and goad are close in meaning, incentive applies to an external influence (such as an expected reward) inciting to action.

a bonus was offered as an incentive

When is it sensible to use inducement instead of goad?

While in some cases nearly identical to goad, inducement suggests a motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another.

offered a watch as an inducement to subscribe

Where would motive be a reasonable alternative to goad?

The words motive and goad can be used in similar contexts, but motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act.

a motive for the crime

When might spur be a better fit than goad?

The meanings of spur and goad largely overlap; however, spur applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy or ardor.

fear was a spur to action

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 goad
Noun
Their plot thickens when Davis goads Staten into taking a swing at him. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025 As a goad to European diplomacy, talk of arming Ukraine turned out not to be a bad idea. —Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 2015
Verb
Martini in hand, hair down, some animal print ensemble on, her Maeve is a psychopath, goading her husband Conrad (Brosnan) to greater acts of violence and mayhem. —Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 12 May 2025 And there is an incentive to goad the client into an unfavorable plea bargain. —Robert Greene, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for goad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goad
  1. incentive
  2. urge
  3. spur
  4. impetus
  5. encourage
  6. stab
  7. encouragement
  8. nudge
Noun
  • Companies can offer discounts or incentives to customers to try to entice them to buy trips or vacations.
    — Corina Vanek, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025
  • Advertisement While there has never been a federal mandate to buy electric vehicles, Trump’s bill does eliminate federal tax incentives for electric-vehicle owners, which is expected to hurt Musk’s company Tesla.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 7 July 2025
Definition of incentive
Verb
  • Please contact your members of Congress and urge them to support ongoing U.S. investments in foreign assistance.
    — Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Cold Case Detective Ayala at (510) 675-5259.
    — Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 9 July 2025
Definition of urge
Verb
  • Exercise spurs insulin sensitivity by assisting insulin signaling in your muscles to take in glucose and use it as fuel.
    — Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 10 July 2025
  • Experts have sounded the alarm over the economy in recent days, especially destructive price wars, which could spur policymakers to ramp up stimulus efforts, analysts said.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 10 July 2025
Definition of spur
Noun
  • But another member of the Southeastern Connecticut delegation who served as the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Aundre Bumgardner, D-Groton, said that the Plainfield proposal had been the primary impetus for the bill.
    — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2025
  • Still, Streeter suggested that further pressure from the U.K. regulator could provide the impetus required to accelerate changes within the company.
    — Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 8 July 2025
Definition of impetus
Verb
  • South Bend offers a good example of how to encourage developers to address these needs, Ibrahim said.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2025
  • If your plants are still fruiting towards the end of the season, cut away any small fruit and lingering flowers to encourage your plant to spend its remaining energy ripening the last few cucumbers on the vine.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
Definition of encourage
Verb
  • At some point, one of Valle's friends allegedly gave him a knife, which was used during the brawl to stab McGrath.
    — Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 11 July 2025
  • Wallace was talking about his 4-year-old son, Jordan Wallace, who, according to prosecutors, Tolbert stabbed more than 36 times, killing him on Independence Day morning.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025
Definition of stab
Noun
  • Jason Bateman even offered Shepard some encouragement to lock it down.
    — Rachel Flynn, People.com, 12 July 2025
  • What a torrent of encouragement and loving advice and undeserved flattery over the years!
    — John Updike, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
Definition of encouragement
Verb
  • The staff also nudged them to members of O’Hara’s social and artistic world, including the artist Nell Blaine and the poet Kenneth Koch.
    — Brian Schaefer July 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025
  • Meanwhile, condos nudged down the average with a value drop of less than 1% countywide.
    — Douglas Hanks July 5, Miami Herald, 5 July 2025
Definition of nudge

Browse Nearby Words

go
goad
goaded
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Cite this Entry

“Goad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goad. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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