goad

goad — verb

IPA/ɡəʊd/
KK[ɡˈod]IPA/ɡəʊd/
  • goadpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • goadshe / she / it
  • goadedpast simple
  • goading-ing form

1. to deliberately annoy or upset someone so much that they react or do something t

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to deliberately annoy or upset someone so much that they react or do something they might not otherwise do — for example, goading a rival into a fight, or goading a quiet student into speaking up in class.

Example

Emma's classmates kept calling her lazy, trying to goad her into proving them wrong.

goad + someone + into + -ing (proving)

The other driver shouted insults, hoping to goad Kwame into an angry response.

Common collocations
  • goad someone into action
  • goad someone into responding
  • goad someone into a fight
  • goad someone by teasing
Synonyms
  • provoke

    stronger and more focused on anger; 'goad' implies a slower, more persistent build-up

  • spur

    more positive — suggests encouragement rather than annoyance

  • needle

    informal British English; milder, often done playfully

  • egg on

    informal phrasal verb; usually about pushing someone into a risky or bold action

Antonyms
  • discourage

    to make someone less willing to act

  • calm

    to reduce someone's urge to react

Grammar Patterns

goad + someone + into + -ing

goad + someone + into + noun

Usage Note

Often used with 'into' + gerund ('goad someone into doing something'). The person being goaded is usually reluctant or resistant, so the goader must apply persistent pressure. This sense is much more common than the literal meaning of prodding an animal.

Common Mistakes

She goaded him to apply for the job.
She goaded him into applying for the job.
'goad' takes 'into + gerund', not 'to + infinitive'.
The teacher goaded the students to study harder.
The teacher encouraged the students to study harder.
'goad' implies annoying or pressuring someone, not simply offering support.

2. to push or poke an animal such as a cow or ox with a pointed stick, a sharp tool

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to push or poke an animal such as a cow or ox with a pointed stick, a sharp tool, or even a hand gesture, in order to make the animal move or change direction.

Example

The farmer took a long wooden stick and goaded the ox toward the gate.

goad + animal + direction (toward the gate)

In the old days, cattle drivers used sharp sticks to goad their animals forward.

Common collocations
  • goad an ox
  • goad cattle forward
  • goad a mule
Synonyms
  • prod

    softer and more general — can be done with any object or even a finger

  • poke

    less forceful; often done briefly or playfully

  • urge on

    less physical — more about calling or shouting at the animal

Grammar Patterns

goad + animal + direction

goad + animal + with + instrument

Usage Note

Literal, physical sense. Today it is mostly found in historical writing, rural contexts, or figurative extensions. The instrument (goad, stick, or even an elbow) can be stated or implied by context.

Common Mistakes

She goaded the horse with a whip.
She goaded the ox with a pointed stick.
'goad' refers specifically to a sharp, poking motion, not a whip or a slap.

goad — noun

IPA/ɡəʊd/
KK[ɡˈod]IPA/ɡoʊd/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five words describe pushing someone to act, but they differ in method and tone. 'Goad' implies persistent, often irritating pressure — like someone's repeated comments that finally make you react. 'Provoke' is stronger and more focused on anger; a provoked person typically responds with hostility, whereas a goaded person may simply act out of frustration. 'Spur' is much more positive — it suggests encouraging someone toward a goal ('The prize money spurred her to train harder'). 'Needle' is an informal British term meaning to annoy someone playfully or teasingly, without the intensity of goading. 'Egg on' is an informal phrasal verb that usually involves cheering someone toward a risky or bold action ('His friends egged him on to jump into the cold river'). Use 'goad' when the pressure is steady and unwelcome; use 'spur' when the push is welcome and constructive.

goad ↗provoke ↗spur ↗needle ↗egg on

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • goad someone into doing something
  • need a goad to do something
  • use something as a goad

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

The word 'goad' comes from Old English 'gād', meaning a pointed stick used for driving cattle. It traces further back to a Proto-Germanic root *gaidō, related to an ancient word for a spear or spike. The verb form appeared in the 10th century with the literal meaning of prodding an animal. By the 16th century, the figurative sense of irritating or provoking a person into action had developed — essentially extending the idea of poking a stubborn animal to the realm of human behaviour. The modern spelling settled by the 17th century.