Showing results for "prodding"

• present participle of prod.

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

See Examples For:

prodding

But dozens of Wall Street Journal readers have told me that their financial advisers are prodding them to put these funds in taxable accounts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Massie has been one of the loudest House voices prodding the Trump administration to release more information on the sex offender and his accomplices.

From Slate ● May 19, 2026

In scenes strikingly reminiscent of Covid-era lockdowns, the LPG supply hit seems to be prodding a return of some migrant workers from big cities such as Mumbai.

From BBC ● Apr. 6, 2026

Despite the EU’s prodding, European drivers have been reluctant to adopt electric vehicles on the scale regulators envisioned.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026

Except Lily, who is prodding at a ladybug with a large stick.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Related Words

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