goad

[ gohd ]

noun

1. a stick with a pointed or electrically charged end, for driving cattle, oxen, etc.; prod.
2. anything that pricks or wounds like such a stick.
3. something that encourages, urges, or drives; a stimulus.

verb (used with object)

1. to prick or drive with, or as if with, a goad; prod; incite.

   Synonyms: impel, push, spur

goad

/ ɡəʊd /

noun

1. a sharp pointed stick for urging on cattle, etc
2. anything that acts as a spur or incitement

verb

1. tr to drive with or as if with a goad; spur; incite

Derived Forms

• ˈgoadˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• goad·like adjective
• un·goad·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of goad¹

before 900; Middle English gode, Old English gād; compare Langobardic gaida spearhead

Word History and Origins

Origin of goad¹

Old English gād, of Germanic origin, related to Old English gār, Old Norse geirr spear

Example Sentences

Thus began Johns’s career-long fascination with signs and symbols — not as a subject for representation, but as a goad to pure painting.

From Washington Post

He had no choice but to take up the goad and to do what he did.

From Washington Post

Experts and politicians goad the White House on with demands for tough actions against Russia that they surely know will fail.

From The Daily Beast

Maybe the public display of pro-Gaddafi sentiments acts as a goad for the killings.

From The Daily Beast

Paul, by talking up his isolationism, would goad Romney into sounding like Dick Cheney.

From The Daily Beast

Social and cultural insecurity has also served as a goad to Mormon productivity and achievement.

From The Daily Beast

He knew how to improvise, how to lead a fellow actor into a state of mind, how to goad them into their best performances.

From The Daily Beast

Egypt is like a fair and beautiful heifer: there shall come from the north one that shall goad her.

From Project Gutenberg

He called to her, he rallied her; he signalled to Thyrsis to help him—to inspire her, to goad her to new endurance.

From Project Gutenberg

The mahout reached down with his silver tipped goad and touched the elephant on the knee.

From Project Gutenberg

The mahout, fully awake to the danger, beat the old rascal mightily with his goad.

From Project Gutenberg

In his hand he carried a long-handled ox-whip, with a short goad in the butt of it.

From Project Gutenberg