Goad

Goad is a verb that means to incite or arouse. It’s also a noun that means something that urges or stimulates into action. The roots of the word of the day are in Old English, where the word often referred to a spear or a pointed stick used to drive or ‘goad’ cattle. When we goad people in a figurative sense, we’re not using a stick, but we are impelling them into action just the same. I tried to goad Kevin into working overtime to cover for me last week, but he was firmly against it. No amount of urging or begging would get him to comply.