To thrust against or into

• poke

  1. To push or jab at, as with a finger or an arm; prod.
  2. To make (a hole or pathway, for example) by or as if by prodding, elbowing, or jabbing:
  3. To push; thrust:

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  1. To push or jab at, as with a finger or an arm; prod.
  2. To make (a hole or pathway, for example) by or as if by prodding, elbowing, or jabbing:
  3. To push; thrust:

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• nudge

  1. To push against gently, especially in order to gain attention or give a signal.
  2. To come close to; near:
  3. A gentle push.

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  1. To push against gently, especially in order to gain attention or give a signal.
  2. To come close to; near:
  3. A gentle push.

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• jog

  1. To move by shoving, bumping, or jerking; jar:
  2. To give a push or shake to; nudge:
  3. To rouse or stimulate as if by nudging:

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  1. To move by shoving, bumping, or jerking; jar:
  2. To give a push or shake to; nudge:
  3. To rouse or stimulate as if by nudging:

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• jab

  1. To poke or thrust abruptly:
  2. To stab or pierce:
  3. To punch (someone) with short straight blows.

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  1. To poke or thrust abruptly:
  2. To stab or pierce:
  3. To punch (someone) with short straight blows.

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• dig

  1. To break up, turn over, or remove (earth or sand, for example), as with a shovel, spade, or snout, or with claws, paws or hands.
  2. To make or form by removing earth or other material:
  3. To prepare (soil) by loosening or cultivating.

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  1. To break up, turn over, or remove (earth or sand, for example), as with a shovel, spade, or snout, or with claws, paws or hands.
  2. To make or form by removing earth or other material:
  3. To prepare (soil) by loosening or cultivating.

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To stir to action or feeling

• work up

  1. a complete medical study of a patient, including a thorough examination, laboratory tests, a survey of the patient's case history, etc.
  2. an unwanted mark on a printed page caused by the rising of spacing material

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  1. a complete medical study of a patient, including a thorough examination, laboratory tests, a survey of the patient's case history, etc.
  2. an unwanted mark on a printed page caused by the rising of spacing material

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• trigger

  1. The lever pressed by the finger to discharge a firearm.
  2. A similar device used to release or activate a mechanism.
  3. An event that precipitates other events.

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  1. The lever pressed by the finger to discharge a firearm.
  2. A similar device used to release or activate a mechanism.
  3. An event that precipitates other events.

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• touch off

  1. (idiomatic) To start; to cause, especially used for unstable situations that may magnify if disturbed.

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  1. (idiomatic) To start; to cause, especially used for unstable situations that may magnify if disturbed.

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• stimulate

  1. To rouse to action or increased activity; excite:
  2. To increase temporarily the activity of (a body organ or system, for example).
  3. To cause to be interested or engaged:

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  1. To rouse to action or increased activity; excite:
  2. To increase temporarily the activity of (a body organ or system, for example).
  3. To cause to be interested or engaged:

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• spur

  1. A short spike or spiked wheel that attaches to the heel of a rider's boot and is used to urge a horse forward.
  2. An incentive:
  3. A spinelike process on the leg of some birds.

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  1. A short spike or spiked wheel that attaches to the heel of a rider's boot and is used to urge a horse forward.
  2. An incentive:
  3. A spinelike process on the leg of some birds.

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• set off

  1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To leave; to begin a journey or trip.
  2. (idiomatic) To begin; to cause; to initiate.
  3. (idiomatic) To cause to explode.

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  1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To leave; to begin a journey or trip.
  2. (idiomatic) To begin; to cause; to initiate.
  3. (idiomatic) To cause to explode.

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• provoke

  1. To incite to anger or resentment:
  2. To stir to action or feeling:
  3. To give rise to; bring about:

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  1. To incite to anger or resentment:
  2. To stir to action or feeling:
  3. To give rise to; bring about:

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• propel

  1. To cause to move forward or onward.
  2. To cause to develop or progress:

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  1. To cause to move forward or onward.
  2. To cause to develop or progress:

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• prompt

  1. Being on time; punctual.
  2. Carried out or performed without delay:
  3. To move to act; spur; incite:

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  1. Being on time; punctual.
  2. Carried out or performed without delay:
  3. To move to act; spur; incite:

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• prick

  1. The act of piercing or pricking.
  2. The sensation of being pierced or pricked.
  3. A persistent or sharply painful feeling of sorrow or remorse.

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  1. The act of piercing or pricking.
  2. The sensation of being pierced or pricked.
  3. A persistent or sharply painful feeling of sorrow or remorse.

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• pique

  1. A state of vexation caused by a perceived slight or indignity; a feeling of wounded pride.
  2. To cause to feel resentment or indignation.
  3. To provoke; arouse:

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  1. A state of vexation caused by a perceived slight or indignity; a feeling of wounded pride.
  2. To cause to feel resentment or indignation.
  3. To provoke; arouse:

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• move

  1. To change in position from one point to another:
  2. To follow a specified course:
  3. To change posture or position; stir:

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  1. To change in position from one point to another:
  2. To follow a specified course:
  3. To change posture or position; stir:

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• motivate

  1. To provide with an incentive or a reason for doing something; impel:
  2. To cause to be enthusiastic:

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  1. To provide with an incentive or a reason for doing something; impel:
  2. To cause to be enthusiastic:

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• instigate

  1. To initiate or bring about, often by inciting:
  2. To urge on; goad:

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  1. To initiate or bring about, often by inciting:
  2. To urge on; goad:

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• inspire

  1. To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
  2. To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion:
  3. To stimulate to action; motivate:

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  1. To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
  2. To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion:
  3. To stimulate to action; motivate:

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• inflame

  1. To arouse to passionate feeling or action:
  2. To make more violent; intensify:
  3. To cause (the skin) to redden or grow hot, as from strong emotion or stimulants.

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  1. To arouse to passionate feeling or action:
  2. To make more violent; intensify:
  3. To cause (the skin) to redden or grow hot, as from strong emotion or stimulants.

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• incite

  1. To provoke and urge on:

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  1. To provoke and urge on:

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• impel

  1. To urge to action through moral pressure; drive:
  2. To drive forward; propel.

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  1. To urge to action through moral pressure; drive:
  2. To drive forward; propel.

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• goad

  1. A long stick with a pointed end used for prodding animals.
  2. An agent or means of prodding or urging; a stimulus.
  3. To prod or urge with or as if with a long pointed stick.

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  1. A long stick with a pointed end used for prodding animals.
  2. An agent or means of prodding or urging; a stimulus.
  3. To prod or urge with or as if with a long pointed stick.

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• galvanize

  1. To stimulate or shock with an electric current.
  2. To arouse to awareness or action; spur:
  3. To coat (iron or steel) with rust-resistant zinc.

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  1. To stimulate or shock with an electric current.
  2. To arouse to awareness or action; spur:
  3. To coat (iron or steel) with rust-resistant zinc.

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• foment

  1. To arouse or incite (trouble, for example).
  2. To treat (the skin, for example) by fomentation.

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  1. To arouse or incite (trouble, for example).
  2. To treat (the skin, for example) by fomentation.

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• excite

  1. To arouse strong feeling in:
  2. To arouse (someone) sexually.
  3. To elicit or arouse (a reaction or emotion, for example):

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  1. To arouse strong feeling in:
  2. To arouse (someone) sexually.
  3. To elicit or arouse (a reaction or emotion, for example):

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• egg on

  1. (idiomatic) To encourage or coax a person to do something, especially something foolhardy or reckless.

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  1. (idiomatic) To encourage or coax a person to do something, especially something foolhardy or reckless.

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Something that causes and encourages a given response

• stimulus

  1. Something causing or regarded as causing a response.
  2. An agent, action, or condition that elicits or accelerates a physiological or psychological activity or response.
  3. Something that incites or rouses to action; an incentive:

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  1. Something causing or regarded as causing a response.
  2. An agent, action, or condition that elicits or accelerates a physiological or psychological activity or response.
  3. Something that incites or rouses to action; an incentive:

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• stimulator

  1. A person, device or substance that stimulates.

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  1. A person, device or substance that stimulates.

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• stimulation

  1. A pushing or goading toward action.
  2. An activity causing excitement or pleasure.
  3. (biology) Any action or condition that creates a response; sensory input.

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  1. A pushing or goading toward action.
  2. An activity causing excitement or pleasure.
  3. (biology) Any action or condition that creates a response; sensory input.

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• stimulant

  1. An agent, especially a chemical agent such as caffeine, that temporarily arouses or accelerates physiological or organic activity.
  2. A stimulus or an incentive:
  3. A food or drink, especially an alcoholic drink, believed to have a stimulating effect.

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  1. An agent, especially a chemical agent such as caffeine, that temporarily arouses or accelerates physiological or organic activity.
  2. A stimulus or an incentive:
  3. A food or drink, especially an alcoholic drink, believed to have a stimulating effect.

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• spur

  1. A short spike or spiked wheel that attaches to the heel of a rider's boot and is used to urge a horse forward.
  2. An incentive:
  3. A spinelike process on the leg of some birds.

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  1. A short spike or spiked wheel that attaches to the heel of a rider's boot and is used to urge a horse forward.
  2. An incentive:
  3. A spinelike process on the leg of some birds.

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• push

  1. To apply pressure against (something), especially for the purpose of moving it:
  2. To move (something) by exerting force against it; thrust or shove:
  3. To exert downward pressure on (a button or keyboard, for example); press.

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  1. To apply pressure against (something), especially for the purpose of moving it:
  2. To move (something) by exerting force against it; thrust or shove:
  3. To exert downward pressure on (a button or keyboard, for example); press.

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• motivation

  1. The act or process of motivating:
  2. The state of being motivated:
  3. Something that motivates; an inducement, reason, or goal:

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  1. The act or process of motivating:
  2. The state of being motivated:
  3. Something that motivates; an inducement, reason, or goal:

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• inducement

  1. Something that helps bring about an action or a desired result; an incentive:
  2. The act or process of inducing:
  3. Misrepresentation that leads a person to enter into a contract or transaction with a false understanding of the risks and obligations:

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  1. Something that helps bring about an action or a desired result; an incentive:
  2. The act or process of inducing:
  3. Misrepresentation that leads a person to enter into a contract or transaction with a false understanding of the risks and obligations:

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• incentive

  1. Something, such as the fear of punishment or the expectation of reward, that induces action or motivates effort.
  2. Serving to induce or motivate:

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  1. Something, such as the fear of punishment or the expectation of reward, that induces action or motivates effort.
  2. Serving to induce or motivate:

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• impulse

  1. An impelling force; an impetus.
  2. The motion produced by such a force.
  3. A sudden wish or urge that prompts an unpremeditated act or feeling; an abrupt inclination:

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  1. An impelling force; an impetus.
  2. The motion produced by such a force.
  3. A sudden wish or urge that prompts an unpremeditated act or feeling; an abrupt inclination:

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• impetus

  1. An impelling force; an impulse.
  2. The force or energy associated with a moving body.
  3. Something that incites; a stimulus.

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  1. An impelling force; an impulse.
  2. The force or energy associated with a moving body.
  3. Something that incites; a stimulus.

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• fillip

  1. A snap or light blow made by pressing a fingertip against the thumb and suddenly releasing it.
  2. Something that excites or stimulates:
  3. To strike or propel rapidly by a fillip:

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  1. A snap or light blow made by pressing a fingertip against the thumb and suddenly releasing it.
  2. Something that excites or stimulates:
  3. To strike or propel rapidly by a fillip:

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• encouragement

  1. The act of encouraging.
  2. The state of being encouraged.
  3. One that encourages.

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  1. The act of encouraging.
  2. The state of being encouraged.
  3. One that encourages.

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