goading
Urging someone forward
Goading is the act of provoking or urging someone toward action, typically through persistent irritation or challenge.
A goad was originally a pointed stick for driving cattle, and the verb retains that sense of prodding: His goading finally pushed her to respond.
The word suggests deliberate provocation rather than encouragement—you goad someone into losing their temper, not into doing their best.
Act that triggers response
- antagonizingDeliberately causing hostility
- baitingDeliberately trying to provoke
- needlingPersistent mild taunting
- badgeringPersistent harassment or nagging
pestering · harassing · taunting · aggravating · irritating · egging on · pushing buttons · getting a rise
Insulting to provoke
- jeeringVocal public mockery
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
- hecklingHostile audience interruption
derision · sneering · jibing · teasing · scorn · insults · barbs · gibes
Inciting to action
- urgingStrongly encouraging action
- proddingPersistent urging forward
- pushingApplying force to move
- drivingControlling a vehicle
encouraging · prompting · incentivizing · impelling · propelling · stimulating · rousing · galvanizing
Prompting action to begin
- fomentingActively stirring up discord
- stirring upCausing to activate
- inflamingArousing strong emotion
- agitatingDisturbing or stirring up
rousing · triggering · provoking · whipping up · stoking · kindling · sparking · catalyzing
provocation
Act that triggers response
- antagonizingDeliberately causing hostility
- baitingDeliberately trying to provoke
- needlingPersistent mild taunting
badgering · pestering · harassing · taunting · aggravating · irritating · egging on · pushing buttons · getting a rise · riling
taunting
Insulting to provoke
- jeeringVocal public mockery
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
heckling · derision · sneering · jibing · teasing · scorn · insults · barbs · gibes · raillery
spurring
Inciting to action
driving · encouraging · prompting · incentivizing · impelling · propelling · stimulating · rousing · galvanizing · energizing
instigating
Prompting action to begin
- fomentingActively stirring up discord
- stirring upCausing to activate
- inflamingArousing strong emotion
agitating · rousing · triggering · provoking · whipping up · stoking · kindling · sparking · catalyzing · incitement
prodding
Persistent urging forward
- cattle prodElectric herding device
- drivingControlling a vehicle
- livestockDomesticated farm animals
corral · roundup · shepherd · drover · stockyard · mustering · wrangler · rancher · cowboy · oxen
- irritatingannoying, aggravating, bothersome, exasperating, frustrating
- persuadingpersuading, convincing, urging, coaxing, influencing
- provocationbaiting, taunting, incitement, instigation, needling
- tauntstaunts, taunt, taunting, neener neener, insults
- teasingtease, teasing, rib, ribbing, josh
- coercionduress, coercing, compelling, threat, forcing
goadingsoothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
calming · pacifying · tranquilizing · placating · mollifying
goadingdiscouraging
Causing loss of confidence
deterring · dissuading · preventing · restraining · inhibiting
goadingreassuring
Restoring calm or confidence
nurturing · heartening · comforting · supporting · praising