prodding

[ prod-ing ]

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.

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of prodding¹

First recorded in 1840–45; prod + -ing ¹ for the noun senses; prod + -ing ² for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

Companies prodding patients to “ask your doctor” for drugs that they may not need isn’t just about truth in advertising or breaking government and personal budgets.

From Salon

Her deliberate prodding continued and she ended her answer by noting that she did not take handouts from her wealthy father.

From BBC

But we’re more like mischievous researchers rather than puzzle solvers, tasked to wander a library and hunt for camouflaged narratives, each one prodding us to pause, ponder and pretend.

From Los Angeles Times

This is neither a complete accounting of the career, nor a prodding journalistic deep dive — though Taylor herself can dive pretty deep.

From Los Angeles Times

These punishing, skeptical, prodding, guilt-inducing thoughts, personified with lampooning gusto, serve as the chattering chorus for his divided identity.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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