goad
/ɡəʊd/
Group 21Difficulty 2/3
Definitions
- (verb)
- To provoke or annoy someone so as to stimulate some action or reaction GRE
- (noun)
- A thing that stimulates someone into action GRE
Example in Context
The editorial was clearly designed to goad the government into responding publicly, thereby drawing more attention to the controversy.
Synonyms
pushprovokeurge
Etymology
Originally referred to provoking someone to action, often by annoyance.
- gaudere (Latin) — to rejoice
Memory Aid
🐐Sounds like “goad sounds like 'goad the goat'”
The farmer GOADs the goat with a stick, making it jump around like a hyperactive clown!
Visual Association
🐐A goat jumping around frantically, trying to escape a playful farmer waving a stick.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “goad” mean on the GRE?
goad (verb) means “To provoke or annoy someone so as to stimulate some action or reaction”. The editorial was clearly designed to goad the government into responding publicly, thereby drawing more attention to the controversy.
How to remember “goad” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “goad” sounds like “goad sounds like 'goad the goat'”. The farmer GOADs the goat with a stick, making it jump around like a hyperactive clown!
What are synonyms for “goad”?
Common synonyms: push, provoke, urge.