goading

[goh-ding]

noun

1. the act of pricking, prodding, driving, or inciting with or as if with a goad.

   After a little goading from the crowd, he grabbed another habanero pepper and ate the whole darn thing.

adjective

1. pricking or prodding with or as if with a goad; driving or inciting.

   It's precisely this unstable combination of insecurity and superiority that generates a goading need to prove oneself.

Word History and Origins

Origin of goading¹

First recorded in 1540–50; goad ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun; goad ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective

Example Sentences

“What that family suffered is truly, truly horrific and truly unconscionable. The lies that were told, the goading of the family, all of that is absolutely horrendous.”

From Los Angeles Times

We can expect some goading and taunting at the ceremonial way in this evening.

From BBC

YouTube footage shows him goading people into singing Reef's Put Your Hands Up, and taking selfies with fans during the encore.

From BBC

He said Ibbotson's gang were the aggressors and the teenager, whose violent history included wielding a meat cleaver in a street, was "goading" the smaller group to fight.

From BBC

But his attendance felt more like goading than a desire to celebrate American athletes.

From Salon

Related Words

• challenging 
• disturbing 
• exciting 
• inspirational 
• insulting 
• offensive 
• outrageous