1
as in kisses
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing
accidentally nudged me as they squeezed past
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urges
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
the car salesman nudged me into taking a test-drive, even though I had said that I was just looking
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nudges
Selome Hailu, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Team priorities could collide as the concerned Moon in your 11th House of Aspirations nudges reckless Mars in your 5th House of Risks.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
This perspective helps explain why small changes in choice environments – nudges such as placing salad bars directly in cafeteria serving lines or listing vegetarian options first on menus – can significantly shift behavior without forcing anyone to choose differently.
—Alejandro Hortal-Sánchez, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Even though those seem to be going nowhere, nudges from the likes of Sens.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 18 Mar. 2026
Commitments may need clearer promises, especially as the Moon in your tender 8th house nudges Jupiter in your busy 2nd house.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
Everyday exchanges feel softer as romantic Venus kisses elusive Neptune in your 3rd House of Contact, which nudges you to speak from the heart.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
In effect, the system nudges seniors toward dependency rather than prevention.
—Saul Anuzis, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
Bill nudges a bottle to the center of the table.
—David Cook, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
As Benson continues asking questions about the victim, Jasmyn nudges a sign that shows her prices for autographs and pictures and says that her time is valuable.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Team priorities could collide as the concerned Moon in your 11th House of Aspirations nudges reckless Mars in your 5th House of Risks.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
This perspective helps explain why small changes in choice environments – nudges such as placing salad bars directly in cafeteria serving lines or listing vegetarian options first on menus – can significantly shift behavior without forcing anyone to choose differently.
—Alejandro Hortal-Sánchez, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Even though those seem to be going nowhere, nudges from the likes of Sens.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 18 Mar. 2026
Commitments may need clearer promises, especially as the Moon in your tender 8th house nudges Jupiter in your busy 2nd house.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
Everyday exchanges feel softer as romantic Venus kisses elusive Neptune in your 3rd House of Contact, which nudges you to speak from the heart.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
In effect, the system nudges seniors toward dependency rather than prevention.
—Saul Anuzis, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
Bill nudges a bottle to the center of the table.
—David Cook, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nudges
Verb
-
His son Bret recalled his father’s postgame smiles, hugs and kisses with his wife of 58 years Debbie.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
26 Apr. 2026
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Capaldi points back and the pair begin to walk towards one another before Capaldi grabs Styles' face and kisses him.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Festivalgoer Jim Strait urges fans to take the sun seriously, as well.—
David Harris,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The League of Women Voters urges our legislators to reject any attempt to redraw legislative or congressional maps before the 2030 census.—
Allyson Meyers,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And within three really good pushes, the baby was out and doing perfect.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Witzburg faced bad odds of winning reappointment from Johnson, a frequent target of her politically damaging investigations and opponent in legislative pushes.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tokyo Stylez, Cardi’s hairstylist, brushes out a sleek brown hairpiece, and Erika la’ pearl, her makeup artist, dabs at Cardi’s face while the rapper scrolls through her phone, controlling the music.—
Jazmine Hughes,
Allure,
24 Mar. 2026
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When some chime in to say their doctors had been cautiously optimistic about treatments, Sarah brushes that aside.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The council also encourages Gary leadership to participate in any IURC proceedings and asks for the Indiana General Assembly to biannually review utility delivery charge actions and pursue reforms.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Channeling Abbie Hoffman, Tolentino encourages people to steal from her own employer, The New Yorker, but does not explain which high crimes David Remnick has committed to earn this comeuppance.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
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In the new sequel, Grace teams with her estranged younger sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), as they’re hunted by four elite families full of murderous jerks scrambling to become the High Seat of a Council that controls the world.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Legal work that touches immigration status or physical injury can bring fear to the surface again and again.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Kansas City-area Representatives Sam Graves, who represents a swath of northern Missouri, and Mark Alford, whose district touches the metro and central Missouri, similarly both made statements about the attack.—
Jack Harvel
April 27,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The outing wasn’t free of some jams, but Wright worked out of them with poise.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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Arndt allowed baserunners in each of the first five innings but wiggled out of most of the jams.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nudges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nudges. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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