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

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

The day will need him at his gobsmacking best; poking and prodding, controlling and surprising, putting men into gaps and sticking points on the board.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

There are close-ups of hands kneading dough, a snail sliming its way up a window and Cathy prodding a jellied fish with her finger.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

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 • Dec. 20, 2025

Gilly could feel Miss Ellis’s fingers on her backbone gently prodding her through the doorway and into the house.

From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson

Related Words

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