1
as in to brush
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing
accidentally nudged me as they squeezed past
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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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Recent Examples of nudge
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024
For participants who’ve made a connection, the promise of continuing to appear on the show nudges them toward commitment.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024
But that slight nudge over the top does not seem enough for the Russian star, who has been playing outside of the top 10 earners at his position.
—Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2024
At the same time, natural disasters and other events nudged the insurance industry to start incorporating climate risk into its pricing models.
—Andrea Riquier, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nudge 
Verb
The diplomacy can be fun, too — especially when Allison Janney shows up as the Vice President of the United States to give her slovenly would-be replacement a literal dressing down — and keeping up with the hidden meaning behind every wink and nudge is a rewarding bit of at-home sleuthing, as well.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024
For participants who’ve made a connection, the promise of continuing to appear on the show nudges them toward commitment.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024
But that slight nudge over the top does not seem enough for the Russian star, who has been playing outside of the top 10 earners at his position.
—Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2024
At the same time, natural disasters and other events nudged the insurance industry to start incorporating climate risk into its pricing models.
—Andrea Riquier, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudge
Verb
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Then brush the outside of the bird with oil or butter before seasoning as desired.Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2024
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Arrange the rings on the prepared pan and brush the top lightly with olive oil.Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Yes, Donald Trump urged congressional Republicans to reject the bill, but three years of inaction were a bigger issue for voters.Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
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Murphy urged residents to take the drought warning seriously and reduce water use voluntarily.Melissa Chan, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Kids are just as accommodating, or at least as flexible, with their push notification options.Caleb Harris, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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That question seems to lie at the center of the push against remote work.Chris Westfall, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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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
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The trainer turns and kisses one of the man-eaters on the nose.Holly Millea, Smithsonian, 29 June 2017
Verb
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Gifts Under $50 Keep it traditional by giving him high-quality underwear or encourage him to pamper himself with a grooming kit from one of our favorite beauty brands.Genevieve Cepeda, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
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The hike also is aimed at encouraging more customers to pay electronically with FasTrak toll readers.Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Jeff Goldblum plays the Wizard of Oz, a lanky charmer who might be a jerk at best and a puppet of fascists at worst.Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 20 Nov. 2024
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Johnson stars as Callum Drift, head of security for St. Nicholas (J.K. Simmons), and the beefy bodyguard is retiring after 540 years on the job because, well, people turn into jerks at Christmas.Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Being with those Colin touched, hearing their memories of him and sharing my own gave us all solace.Simone Talma Flowers, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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They weren't touched when part of I-794 was reconstructed from 2013 through 2016 — a $239 million project that included rebuilding the Hoan Bridge's concrete deck.Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Nudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudge. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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