prodding

American  

[prod-ing] / ˈprɒd ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of poking or jabbing with or as if with something pointed.

   Finally, after five minutes and some prodding with a stick, the cow moved out of the road.

2. the act of trying to incite someone to action, as if by poking; nagging or urging.

   The National Research Council finally succeeded in its assigned mission—albeit with some prodding from a public interest group and the courts.

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adjective

1. poking, urging, or nagging.

   It wasn’t until two days later, under the prodding questions of close relatives, that she revealed the true source of the ring.

Etymology

Origin of prodding

First recorded in 1840–45; prod + -ing ¹ for the noun senses; prod + -ing ² for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

The Australian skipper removed him for a 13th time in Tests, more than any other bowler, with a furious Root berating himself after prodding at a full delivery and feathering to Carey.

From Barron's

There’s no on-camera host prodding the homicide victim’s mother to cry.

From The Wall Street Journal

The next day, after more prodding by Amelia’s father, police received permission to search some parts of the house but found no sign of her.

From Los Angeles Times

The dolphins crowded Roz, studying her and prodding her and chattering to themselves.

From Literature

The negotiations continued to falter for the next several months as the Israeli leader resisted prodding from the White House.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• goad
• motivate
• prompt
• propel
• provoke
• remind
• spur
• stimulate