Goad: meaning, definitions and examples

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goad

 

[ ɡoʊd ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

provocation

A goad is something that encourages or provokes someone to take action or react in a certain way. It can be a physical object, such as a stick with a pointed end, or a mental stimulus that pushes someone to do something.

Synonyms

motivation, provocation, stimulus

Examples of usage

  • The criticism from his boss was the goad he needed to improve his performance.
  • She used his fear of failure as a goad to motivate him to succeed.
  • The threat of losing her job was the goad that pushed her to start her own business.
Context #2 | Verb

urge

To goad means to provoke or annoy someone in order to stimulate them to take action. It involves pushing or prodding someone in a way that incites a reaction.

Synonyms

provoke, stimulate, urge

Examples of usage

  • He tried to goad his opponent into making a mistake by taunting him.
  • The coach goaded the players to push themselves harder during practice.
  • She felt the need to goad her friend into confronting her fears.

Translations

Translations of the word "goad" in other languages:

🇵🇹 incitar

🇮🇳 उकसाना

🇩🇪 anstacheln

🇮🇩 menghasut

🇺🇦 спонукати

🇵🇱 podżegać

🇯🇵 駆り立てる (karitateru)

🇫🇷 inciter

🇪🇸 incitar

🇹🇷 kışkırtmak

🇰🇷 부추기다 (buchugida)

🇸🇦 حث

🇨🇿 podněcovat

🇸🇰 podnecovať

🇨🇳 刺激 (cìjī)

🇸🇮 spodbujati

🇮🇸 æsa

🇰🇿 қоздыру

🇬🇪 წაქეზება

🇦🇿 təhrik etmək

🇲🇽 incitar

Etymology

The word 'goad' originated from Old English 'gād,' meaning a stick or rod, which was used for driving cattle. Over time, it evolved to also refer to something that incites or provokes action in a broader sense.

See also: forego, forgo, go, gofer, going, gone, goon, ongoing, outgoing, undergo.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,870, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.