Word
goad
US/ˈɡoʊd/
UK/ɡˈəʊd/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a pointed stick for making animals move forward, or anything that pushes you to act.
n. a pointed implement for driving livestock, extended to any stimulus that provokes action or reaction.
Examples
“The farmer uses a goad to move the cattle.”
“His rival's taunts acted as a goad, pushing him to train harder for the final race.”
“The threat of closure served as a goad for reform, forcing the committee to confront inefficiencies it had ignored for years.”
Examples
simple
“The farmer uses a goad to move the cattle.”
contextual
“His rival's taunts acted as a goad, pushing him to train harder for the final race.”
complex
“The threat of closure served as a goad for reform, forcing the committee to confront inefficiencies it had ignored for years.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “goad” in context.
Verb
01. act as goad
“Her criticism acted as a goad to make him work harder.”
verb + prep + noun
02. apply goad
“Farmers once applied the goad sparingly to avoid injury.”
verb + noun
03. resist goad
“She resisted the goad to reply angrily to the criticism.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. constant goad
“His rival's success was a constant goad to improve.”
adj + noun
05. electric goad
“Inspectors banned the use of the electric goad on livestock.”
adj + noun
06. powerful goad
“Fear of failure can be a powerful goad to hard work.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. cattle goad
“The museum displays an old wooden cattle goad used by drovers.”
noun + noun
08. goad for change
“The scandal became a real goad for change in the industry.”
noun + prep + noun
09. goad to action
“The report was intended as a goad to action on climate change.”
noun + prep + noun
10. act as a goad to action
“The damning report acted as a goad to action for local authorities.”
11. need no further goad
“Driven by ambition, she needed no further goad to apply.”
12. prod with an electric goad
“It is now illegal to prod cattle with an electric goad in many countries.”
Real-World Examples
“Trump and members of his administration on Sunday goaded Republican senators to stick with trying to pass a healthcare bill, after the lawmakers failed spectacularly last week to muster the votes to end Obamacare.” “Fela, the Nigerian singer and band leader who combined pulsating Afro-beat rhythms and scathing pidgin English lyrics to goad Nigeria's leaders and denounce their authoritarian regimes, died on Saturday at his home in Lagos.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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