goad
(Informal)
[verb]
Synonyms:
- provoke, drive, egg on, exhort, incite, prod, prompt, spur
[noun]
Synonyms:
- provocation, impetus, incentive, incitement, irritation, spur, stimulus, urge

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Antonyms: curb
Related Words: compulsion, drive, impulsion, desire, lust, passion, urge, zeal, impel, move, coerce, compel, force, instigate

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. goad¹ /ɡəʊd $ ɡoʊd/ verb [transitive]

1. to make someone do something by annoying or encouraging them until they do it ⇒ provoke
goad somebody into (doing) something
Kathy goaded him into telling her what he had done.
goad somebody on
They goaded him on with insults.

2. to push animals ahead of you with a sharp stick

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. goad² noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: gad]

1. something that forces someone to do something:
The offer of economic aid was a goad to political change.

2. a sharp stick for making animals move forward

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲