GOADS Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

goads 1 of 2

noun

plural of goad

as in incentives

something that arouses action or activity the threat of skin cancer—not to mention the prospect of wrinkles—should be sufficient goad for using sunscreen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

goads

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of goad

as in urges

to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action tried to goad me into auditioning for the play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stabs

to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object goading the horse forward into the stall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of goads

Noun

To Robin Wright’s multimillionaire gallery owner Laura, her son’s new girlfriend is a sleazy opportunist, a gold digger who lies about her academic and professional credentials and goads Laura by going down on Daniel (Laurie Davidson) in Laura’s house with the door open. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025

Verb

O’Gieblyn is in pained and plaintive agreement with Weil, who goads her throughout the book. — James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 In the episode's climactic bridge showdown, the tone shifts to another '90s classic, as Jim Kirk goads Reeger into a confession about the Constitution scandal. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2026 When the two wind up at a random Easter brunch, Winfried goads Ines into karaoke. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026 The protagonist then goads him into drinking enough to agree to spending the afternoon at her lake house. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 5 Mar. 2026 Using her charm offensive, Hedda goads naive spouses to cheat, recovering alcoholics to drink and depressives to wander off into the darkness with a revolver. — Amy Nicholson, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025 Reynolds goads Miller by sending a photo of himself getting cozy with Sophia, and in a moment both lurid and laughable, the prisoner visualizes the two of them getting naked and going at it right outside the cell. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for goads

Noun

Automakers and their suppliers need incentives to invest in robotics and advanced equipment.

— Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Lula and Bolsonaro discussed the value of the minimum wage, public security policies, Brazil's free healthcare system initiatives and incentives for agribusiness.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of incentives

Verb

The letter also urges scrutiny of her staff, donors, and colleagues.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
And the organization urges individuals to take action – to pay attention to what boys are watching online, share this data with men, and call out sexist statements when they are said.

— Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of urges

Verb

The sequence culminates in the Great Hall, where Ned kicks part of his broken cane to Colum, who stabs MacKinney in the leg.

— Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
But before Bane can finish him off, Batman stabs a Batarang into a little knob on Bane’s wrist gauntlet, the one that controls his intake of Venom.

— Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of stabs

Noun

Many folks send encouragements toward OP mom and her son, while others put heat on the other parents for sexualizing their kids’ friendship.

— DeVonne Goode, Parents, 26 July 2026
All through the park, competitors and onlookers hit vapes and shout tips and encouragements into trees.

— Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026

Definition of encouragements

Verb

The hope for rehabilitation spurs on the show’s protagonist, River Cartwright (Jack Lowden), to reckless heroics.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Supporters point to consistent growth in America’s technology sector as proof that employing foreign skilled workers spurs overall productivity, and is a net benefit to the American economy.

— Laina Gustafson, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of spurs

Browse Nearby Words

goading

goads

go-ahead

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Goads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goads. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of goads

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes