GOAD: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for GOAD?

Need another word that means the same as “goad”? Find 50 synonyms and 30 related words for “goad” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Goad” are: prick, spur, needle, provoke, sting, prod, egg on, hound, badger, incite, rouse, stir, move, stimulate, motivate, excite, inflame, fire up, work up, impel, pressure, pressurize, dragoon, prompt, induce, encourage, urge, inspire, goading, prodding, spurring, urging, spiked stick, spike, staff, crook, pole, rod, stimulus, incentive, encouragement, stimulant, stimulation, inducement, fillip, impetus, impulse

Goad as a Noun

Definitions of "Goad" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “goad” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A thing that stimulates someone into action.
• A pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion.
• A spiked stick used for driving cattle.
• A verbalization that encourages you to attempt something.

Synonyms of "Goad" as a noun (22 Words)

crook	A piece of extra tubing which can be fitted to a brass instrument to lower the pitch by a set interval. Her head was cradled in the crook of Luke s left arm.
encouragement	The action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope. Incentives and encouragement to play sports.
fillip	A movement made by bending the last joint of the finger against the thumb and suddenly releasing it; a flick of the finger. The halving of car tax would provide a fillip to sales.
goading	A verbalization that encourages you to attempt something.
impetus	The act of applying force suddenly. Hit the booster coil before the flywheel loses all its impetus.
impulse	A change of momentum produced by an impulse equivalent to the average value of the force multiplied by the time during which it acts. Nerve impulses.
incentive	An additional payment (or other remuneration) to employees as a means of increasing output. Tax incentives for investing in depressed areas.
inducement	A positive motivational influence. There is no inducement to wait for payment.
pole	A long slender flexible rod of wood or fibreglass used by a competitor in pole vaulting. They tell you on the tin that their tuna is entirely caught with pole and line.
prodding	A pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion. The ceaseless prodding got on his nerves.
prompt	The time limit for the payment of an account stated on a prompt note. The audience could hear his prompting.
rod	A square rod of land. The largest carp ever caught on rod and line in Britain.
spike	Fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn. The oil price spike.
spiked stick	Sports equipment consisting of a sharp point on the sole of a shoe worn by athletes.
spur	A projection from a mountain or mountain range. It s an easy walk up the spur that leads to the summit.
spurring	A sharp prod fixed to a rider’s heel and used to urge a horse onward.
staff	Building material consisting of plaster and hair; used to cover external surfaces of temporary structure (as at an exposition) or for decoration. The hospital has an excellent nursing staff.
stimulant	A drug that temporarily quickens some vital process. Population growth is a major stimulant to industrial development.
stimulation	The effect of a stimulus (on nerves or organs etc. The stimulation of a revolution in intelligence affairs.
stimulus	Any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action. If the tax were abolished it would act as a stimulus to exports.
urging	The action of urging someone to do something. I have had maternal urgings.

Usage Examples of "Goad" as a noun

• For him the visit was a goad to renewed effort.

Goad as a Verb

Definitions of "Goad" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “goad” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Give heart or courage to.
• Provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction.
• Stab or urge on as if with a pointed stick.
• Urge with or as if with a goad.
• Drive (an animal) with a spiked stick.
• Goad or provoke,as by constant criticism.
• Annoy or provoke, as by constant criticism.

Synonyms of "Goad" as a verb (28 Words)

badger	Persuade through constant efforts. Tom had finally badgered her into going.
dragoon	Subjugate by imposing troops. She had been dragooned into helping with the housework.
egg on	Coat with beaten egg.
encourage	Inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to. Pupils are encouraged to be creative.
excite	Cause to be agitated excited or roused. The energy of an electron is sufficient to excite the atom.
fire up	Cause to go off.
hound	Pursue or chase relentlessly. The detectives hounded the suspect until they found him.
impel	Drive forward; propel. Financial difficulties impelled him to desperate measures.
incite	Provoke or stir up. Incite a riot.
induce	Reason or establish by induction. None of these measures induced a change of policy.
inflame	Become inflamed get sore. The repetitive motion inflamed her joint.
inspire	Breathe in (air); inhale. His passion for literature inspired him to begin writing.
motivate	Request (something) and present facts and arguments in support of one’s request. It is the teacher s job to motivate the child at school.
move	Move so as to change position perform a nontranslational motion. She deftly moved the conversation to safer territory.
needle	Prick with a needle. I just said that to Charlie to needle him.
pressure	To cause to do through pressure or necessity by physical moral or intellectual means. She pressured her son to accept a job offer from the bank.
pressurize	Maintain a certain pressure. A pressurized can.
prompt	(of a computer) request input from (a user. The violence prompted a wave of refugees to flee the country.
provoke	Evoke or provoke to appear or occur. A teacher can provoke you into working harder.
rouse	Cause to be agitated excited or roused. Rouse the beer as the hops are introduced.
spur	Equip with spurs. She spurred her horse towards the hedge.
stimulate	Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner. This play stimulates.
sting	Cause an emotional pain as if by stinging. A nettle stings if you brush it lightly.
stir	Stir the feelings emotions or peace of. The story stirred many memories of my childhood.
urge	Encourage (a person or animal) to move more quickly or in a particular direction. Do try to relax she urged.
work up	Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence.

Usage Examples of "Goad" as a verb

• The cowboys goaded their cattle across the meadows.
• He was trying to goad her into a fight.

Associations of "Goad" (30 Words)

afflict	Cause physical pain or suffering in. She was afflicted by the death of her parents.
affront	Treat, mention, or speak to rudely. He took his son s desertion as a personal affront.
aggressor	A confident assertive person who acts as instigator.
assailant	Someone who attacks. The police have no firm leads about the identity of his assailant.
bludgeon	Beat someone repeatedly with a bludgeon or other heavy object. She was found bludgeoned to death in the basement.
bullying	Noisily domineering; tending to browbeat others.
calumny	The making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation; slander. A bitter struggle marked by calumny and litigation.
contumely	A rude expression intended to offend or hurt. The Church should not be exposed to gossip and contumely.
curse	Invoke or use a curse against. I cursed myself for my carelessness.
defamation	An abusive attack on a person’s character or good name. She sued him for defamation.
detraction	A petty disparagement. Let it be no detraction from his merits to say he is plainspoken.
enemy	A personal enemy. The enemy shot down four helicopters.
glee	Great merriment. His face lit up with impish glee.
gloat	An act of gloating. I would join her for a good gloat.
humiliation	The action of humiliating someone or the state of being humiliated. The conference decision was a humiliation for the union s executive.
indignity	An affront to one’s dignity or self-esteem. The indignity of needing financial help.
insult	Treat, mention, or speak to rudely. The present offer is an absolute insult.
irritate	Make (someone) annoyed or a little angry. It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves.
jibe	Make insulting or mocking remarks; jeer. A jibe at his old rivals.
mock	Mock examinations. Obtaining Grade A in mocks.
obloquy	Strong public condemnation. Conduct to which no more obloquy could reasonably attach.
playfully	In a light-hearted manner. Lily laughed and playfully slapped him across the chest.
rankle	(of a wound or sore) continue to be painful; fester. Lisa was rankled by his assertion.
repel	Be repellent to cause aversion in. Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.
slander	Make false and damaging statements about (someone. I ve had just about all I can stomach of your slanders.
stab	Stab or pierce. She felt a stab of jealousy.
tantalize	Excite the senses or desires of (someone. Such ambitious questions have long tantalized the world s best thinkers.
taunt	Provoke or challenge (someone) with insulting remarks. Pupils will play truant rather than face the taunts of classmates about their ragged clothes.
tease	Mock or make fun of playfully. Some think of him as a tease who likes to keep others guessing.
vilification	Slanderous defamation. The widespread vilification of politicians.