goad
Plural: goads
Noun
- a pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion
- a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
- A long, pointed stick used to prod animals.
- That which goads or incites; a stimulus.
Verb
Verb Forms: goaded, goading, goads
- To provoke or incite someone into action; to drive with a pointed stick.
- give heart or courage to
- urge with or as if with a goad
- stab or urge on as if with a pointed stick
- goad or provoke,as by constant criticism
- To prod with a goad.
- To encourage or stimulate.
- To incite or provoke.
Examples
- goading a boy to fight
- The intense competition would often GOAD players into risky, high-scoring plays in Words With Friends.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English gode, from Old English gād (“goad”), from Proto-Germanic *gaidō (compare Old Norse gedda (“pike (fish)”), Lombardic gaida (“spear”)), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰey- (compare Old Irish gath (“spear”), Sanskrit हिन्वति (hinvati), हिनोति (hinoti, “to urge on, throw”), हेति (heti, “missile, projectile”)). Doublet of gad and yard; see also xyston.
Synonyms
goading, needle, prick, prod, prodding, spur, spurring, urging, abet, actuate, bield, bring about, cheer, drive, egg on, embolden, encourage, engender, evoke, excite, foment, goad, grill, hearten, ignite, impel, incite, induce, inflame, instigate, invoke, lash, motivate, motive, move, obligate, oblige, promote, prompt, provoke, push, rouse, send, set off, spark off, spur on, stimulate, sting, stir, stir up, stoke, tempt, urge, whet, whip up
Scrabble Score: 6
goad: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordgoad: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
goad: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary