nudging
Poking to prompt
Nudging is gently pushing or poking someone, usually with an elbow, to get their attention or signal something: She kept nudging me during the movie.
The term extends to subtle encouragement or persuasion: He needed some nudging before he'd ask her out.
In behavioral economics, nudging refers to designing choices that steer people toward better decisions without restricting options—placing fruit at eye level in a cafeteria rather than banning cookies.
Applying force to move
- elbowingPushing with bent arm
- jostlingPushing and bumping others
- proddingPersistent urging forward
- pokingLight repeated jabbing
bumping · tapping · shoving · jab · jostle · shoulder · elbow · knee
Preset options or failures
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
- anchoringFastening securely to position
- heuristicsPractical problem-solving shortcuts
- opt-outChoose not to participate
opt-in · sludge · boost · intervention · policy · cafeteria · environment · design
Suggesting indirectly
- suggestingOffering an idea indirectly
- insinuatingIndirectly suggesting something
- implyingSuggesting without stating directly
- alludingReferencing indirectly
indirect · discreet · gentle · soft · understated · tactful · delicate · unobtrusive
reminder
Memory aid
hint · suggestion · prod · urge · trigger · coaxing · encouraging · spurring · goading · pushing
pushing
Applying force to move
poking · bumping · tapping · shoving · jab · jostle · shoulder · elbow · knee · touch
defaults
Preset options or failures
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
- anchoringFastening securely to position
- heuristicsPractical problem-solving shortcuts
opt-out · opt-in · sludge · boost · intervention · policy · cafeteria · environment · design · architecture
hinting
Suggesting indirectly
- suggestingOffering an idea indirectly
- insinuatingIndirectly suggesting something
- implyingSuggesting without stating directly
alluding · indirect · discreet · gentle · soft · understated · tactful · delicate · unobtrusive · covert
- shovingpushing, shoving, jostling, elbowing, shouldering
- fiddlingfiddling, fiddle, fiddler, fiddle tune, fiddle tunes
- incitementinciting, instigating, provoking, incitement, instigation
- touchtouch, feel, touching, caress, feeling
- body languagegestures, facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, nodding
- pet behaviortail wagging, purring, kneading, growling, hissing
nudgingforcing
Compelling through pressure
coercing · commanding · demanding · ordering · compelling
nudgingpulling
Force toward oneself
tugging · dragging · drawing back · retracting · withdrawing