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

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

"And if you flick this 'rumba' button," he says, prodding at a Roland CR-78 drum machine, "you'll get the start to Blondie's Heart of Glass."

From BBC ● May 14, 2026

The military is prodding contractors to make their weapons more compatible with AI models.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026

“He’s obviously one of the best wing defensive rebounders in the NBA. He’s able to generate steals and deflections. And, with some prodding, he’s taking charges as well.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2026

It’s the assistant who speaks, ultimately, tasked with the job via unspoken prodding from her boss.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

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