prodder
One who nudges
A prodder is someone or something that prods—urges, pokes, or pushes toward action.
A cattle prodder is a tool for moving livestock.
More often, prodder describes a person who nudges others out of inaction: She was the prodder who kept the project moving.
The word implies persistent, sometimes unwelcome encouragement.
One who heartens others
- urgerOne who prods
- prompterOne who feeds lines
- nudgerOne who gently pushes
- instigatorOne who provokes action
catalyst · spur · goader · nagger · reminder · pusher · mentor · coach
Domesticated bovines kept commercially
- livestockDomesticated farm animals
- goadIncite to action
- shepherdOne who tends flocks
- droverOne who moves livestock
stockman · cowboy · rancher · wrangler · corral · roundup · mustering · sheepdog
Incite to action
- pokerHearth implement for coals
- staffOrganization's workers collectively
- rodThin rigid stick
- probeThorough examination or tool
skewer · jabber · prong · pike · sharp end · handle · battery · shock
One who examines deeply
- questionerOne who poses inquiries
- interviewerOne who poses questions
- interrogatorOne who questions formally
- investigatorOne who examines evidence
journalist · detective · researcher · curious · persistent · nosy · prying · digging
encourager
One who heartens others
instigator · catalyst · spur · goader · nagger · reminder · pusher · mentor · coach · taskmaster
cattle
Domesticated bovines kept commercially
drover · stockman · cowboy · rancher · wrangler · corral · roundup · mustering · sheepdog · flock
goad
Incite to action
probe · skewer · jabber · prong · pike · sharp end · handle · battery · shock · poke
prober
One who examines deeply
- questionerOne who poses inquiries
- interviewerOne who poses questions
- interrogatorOne who questions formally
investigator · journalist · detective · researcher · curious · persistent · nosy · prying · digging · pressing
- deminingmine detector, deminer, mine sweeper, minefield, landmine
- motivatorsmotivator, rewards, ambition, incentive, incentives
prodderrestrainer
Something that holds back
obstructor · blocker · discourager · inhibitor · deterrent
prodderobstructor
One who blocks progress
blocker · hinderer · deterrent · discourager · dissuader
- cattle proddingShocking livestock to move