prod
Nudge toward action
To prod is to poke or jab, usually with something pointed like a finger or stick: She prodded the fire with a poker.
Extended, it means to urge or encourage someone toward action: His parents prodded him to apply for the job.
A prod is both the act and the instrument—a cattle prod delivers an electric shock to move livestock.
She needed a prod to get started.
Quick, straight blow
Incite to action
- spurIncentive or heel device
- awlPointed piercing implement
- skewerPointed cooking rod
- prongPointed projecting part
spike · poker · pitchfork · lance · pike · trident · harpoon · gaff
jab
Quick, straight blow
dig · tap · elbow · finger · stick · point · push · shove · gouge · butt
prompt
Incite to action
nudge · urge · pressure · encourage · coax · impel · exhort · egg on · incite · provoke
goad
Incite to action
prong · spike · poker · pitchfork · lance · pike · trident · harpoon · gaff · bodkin
goad
Incite to action
badger · pester · irritate · annoy · harass · heckle · antagonize · aggravate · nettle · rile
reminder
Memory aid
hint · signal · jog · alert · notification · ping · follow-up · check-in · memo · note
- cattle prodsElectric goads for livestock
- electric prodShock-delivering herding tool
- cattle proddingShocking livestock to move