# gag vs goad

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### gag
*noun · IPA /ˈɡæɡ/ · frequency rank #12,426*
A device to restrain speech, such as a rag in the mouth secured with tape or a rubber ball threaded onto a cord or strap.

### goad
*noun · IPA /ɡəʊd/ · frequency rank #44,230*
A long, pointed stick used to prod animals.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gag-vs-goad