goad

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

v. prick, stab, prod, poke, spur; urge, egg [on], incite, impel, drive, needle (inf.). See cause.

II

(Roget's IV) v.

Syn. prod, urge, prick, prompt, spur, drive, rowel, whip, press, push, impel, force, stimulate, provoke, tease, excite, needle, instigate, inspirit, arouse, animate, encourage, bully, coerce, propel, thrust.

Ant. restrain*, curb, rein in.

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

stimulus, spur, prod, inducement, impetus, catalyst, urge, motive, incentive, *kick in the pants, *swift kick.

II

v.

stimulate, spur, prod, induce, urge, motivate, impel, incite, spark, egg on, coerce, prompt, *kickstart, provoke.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun Something that incites especially a violent response: incitation, incitement, instigation, provocation, stimulus, trigger. See CAUSE. II verb To stir to action or feeling: egg on, excite, foment, galvanize, impel, incite, inflame, inspire, instigate, motivate, move, pique, prick, prod, prompt, propel, provoke, set off, spur, stimulate, touch off, trigger, work up. See CAUSE, EXCITE.