goad
Americannoun
-
goads
plural
-
a stick with a pointed or electrically charged end, for driving cattle, oxen, etc.; prod.
-
anything that pricks or wounds like such a stick.
-
something that encourages, urges, or drives; a stimulus.
verb (used with object)
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goads,
present (3rd person singular)
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goaded,
past participle, past
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goading
present participle
noun
-
a sharp pointed stick for urging on cattle, etc
-
anything that acts as a spur or incitement
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
goadsimple
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goadssimple
-
have goadedperfect
-
has goadedperfect
-
am goadingprogressive
-
are goadingprogressive
-
is goadingprogressive
-
have been goadingperfect progressive
-
has been goadingperfect progressive
Past
-
goadedsimple
-
had goadedperfect
-
was goadingprogressive
-
were goadingprogressive
-
had been goadingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of goad
before 900; Middle English gode, Old English gād; compare Langobardic gaida spearhead
Explanation
A goad is a pointy stick or other instrument used to prod something along. To goad is to poke something with that pointy stick. Either way, the pointiness is really essential for making things leap into action. Originally spelled gad, meaning “spearhead,” goad first came into use as a verb in the 1570s. But say you left your pointy goading stick at home. Have no fear! You can goad people with words, too. Literally or figuratively, a goad prods and pokes and provokes people into doing something. A sheep herder might hustle his flock along with a goad, just as your mom's constant nagging and goading might finally get you sit up straight at the dinner table.
Vocabulary lists containing goad
Lord of the Flies
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Grade 11, List 2
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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Mr. Warsh avoided hints during his post-meeting press conference about the future path of interest rates, despite reporters’ best efforts to goad him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
The economy lacks other spurs to goad it into faster growth.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 9, 2026
Tommy Lasorda had to goad Hershiser into becoming a bulldog.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2025
As they goad each other, they act pettily and childishly but is also great fun to watch the superb actors go toe-to-toe.
From Salon ● Nov. 10, 2024
Banga and Hodza and the others yelled themselves hoarse, trying to goad him into battle.
From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer
Preston goads while the two do so in a dimly lit park.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2024
One seeks out a key piece of Parkinson's-causing RNA, while the other goads the cell to chop it to pieces for recycling.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 9, 2024
In another episode, Che Guevara goads him into indulging power's vilest impulses.
From Salon ● Mar. 18, 2022
It was a strong-willed Cabinet of goads, gadflies and bureaucrats, and there were interagency squabbles and rivalries that the mayor seemed unable to control.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 24, 2020
This only goads them into talking further, in lowered voices, their heads leaning in toward each other.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Mr. Warsh resolutely refuses to be goaded into making news at post-FOMC press conferences.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
The fans goaded Kuniskis to rip a burnout, spinning the truck’s wheels in place until rubber turned into smoke.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
His mother was furious and goaded his father to discipline him.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
He raced to the ring and headed straight to Usyk's corner and goaded his opponent, to the enjoyment of 2,500 travelling British fans.
From BBC ● May 18, 2024
At this Wang Lung was goaded to anger.
From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck
When San Antonio’s big man Victor Wembanyama pointed to his temple after goading a Knick into a cheap foul, the taunt was clear: I’m in your head, buddy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
Rather than respond directly to the company, Muddy Waters took to X, where it posted a meme goading SoFi to “run that game.”
From Barron's ● Mar. 18, 2026
Pollock is known for goading the opposition and extravagant try-scoring celebrations.
From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2026
The goading and deliberate reduction in food encourages them to fly and helps them lose weight, he says.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2025
The engineer was more reckless than his predecessor, going faster, goading the machine into velocity.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
