1
as in incentives
something that arouses action or activity
the threat of losing its only sports franchise was the spur the city council needed to finally do something about the rising crime rate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in supports
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else
a weak wall that might need a spur
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of spurs
Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2026
Bart Jansen Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said authorities are prepared to combat political violence but that rhetoric spurs acts of violence.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
South Korea’s import prices posted their biggest surge in nearly three decades, underscoring the scale of cost pressures rippling through the economy as the Iran war spurs a spike in oil and weighs on the won.
—Heesu Lee, Bloomberg, 15 Apr. 2026
Finally, royal jelly—yet another one of nature’s anti-aging heroes—spurs the production of collagen, thus restoring a youthful bounce to aging skin.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026
The hormone insulin is a peptide that moves sugar from the bloodstream into cells; GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, spurs the pancreas to release insulin and slows the passage of food through the gut.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
This, of course, only causes more heel-digging — nothing spurs divisiveness like a lack of clarity.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
The letters have spurs on them, giving the font an almost country-western look.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
The Wall Street Journal reporting that there’s growing frustration with Chuck Schumer which spurs talk of replacing him.
—NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Pairing it with columbine, an early-season bloomer with nectar-rich spurs, ensures your garden has food available from the start.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
Columbine — An early-season bloomer with nectar-rich spurs, perfect for getting hummingbird activity started in spring.
—Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026
The veterinarian said there is no medical reason for the birds to have been live plucked or to have their spurs cut so short.
—S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
As K-pop spurs franchises, copycat spinoffs and big studio blockbusters, the system that propelled K-culture’s rise could stumble if its authenticity starts to waver.
—Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026
Males carry venomous spurs on their hind legs.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026
Read about Keldon Johnson, the Spurs’ sixth man who owns a ranch outside the city and wears actual spurs, and Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year, who already, at 21 years old, owns a piece of a soccer franchise.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 16 Mar. 2026
Here, gravitational tides between the galaxies pull gas out of each other, forming the bridge and associated spurs.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Handling Speciale, at least on paper, only spurs that sentiment on.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2026
Bart Jansen Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said authorities are prepared to combat political violence but that rhetoric spurs acts of violence.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
South Korea’s import prices posted their biggest surge in nearly three decades, underscoring the scale of cost pressures rippling through the economy as the Iran war spurs a spike in oil and weighs on the won.
—Heesu Lee, Bloomberg, 15 Apr. 2026
Finally, royal jelly—yet another one of nature’s anti-aging heroes—spurs the production of collagen, thus restoring a youthful bounce to aging skin.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026
The hormone insulin is a peptide that moves sugar from the bloodstream into cells; GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, spurs the pancreas to release insulin and slows the passage of food through the gut.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
This, of course, only causes more heel-digging — nothing spurs divisiveness like a lack of clarity.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
The letters have spurs on them, giving the font an almost country-western look.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
The Wall Street Journal reporting that there’s growing frustration with Chuck Schumer which spurs talk of replacing him.
—NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
Columbine is an early-season bloomer with nectar-rich spurs, giving your garden a head start in spring.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Pairing it with columbine, an early-season bloomer with nectar-rich spurs, ensures your garden has food available from the start.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
Columbine — An early-season bloomer with nectar-rich spurs, perfect for getting hummingbird activity started in spring.
—Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026
The veterinarian said there is no medical reason for the birds to have been live plucked or to have their spurs cut so short.
—S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
As K-pop spurs franchises, copycat spinoffs and big studio blockbusters, the system that propelled K-culture’s rise could stumble if its authenticity starts to waver.
—Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026
Males carry venomous spurs on their hind legs.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026
Read about Keldon Johnson, the Spurs’ sixth man who owns a ranch outside the city and wears actual spurs, and Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year, who already, at 21 years old, owns a piece of a soccer franchise.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 16 Mar. 2026
Here, gravitational tides between the galaxies pull gas out of each other, forming the bridge and associated spurs.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurs
Verb
-
The shower curtain opens, revealing an old woman, who stabs and decapitates Mary.—
Therie Hendrey-Seabrook,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 Mar. 2026
-
But this person who was a friend, who owes her career to me, just stabs me in the back.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In response, Baltimore City officials created programs to boost affordable housing in various ways, including incentives to transform vacant homes.—
Lily Carey,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Some content creators are compensated, and this also creates problematic incentives in the system.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As a result, educators are leaving the profession, classrooms are overcrowded, and mental health counselors and other critical supports are disappearing.—
Kevin Vick,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Disney Scoop Guy posted a video to Instagram on Thursday, April 23 from the Anaheim theme park that shows an A-frame roof and vertical supports popping up above construction walls just east of Edelweiss Snacks.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The script lightly pokes fun at the lofty ambitions of theater-makers who aim to change lives through their art, while ultimately affirming the power of theater to lift people’s spirits.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The clip also pokes fun at Roach's retirement announcement in 2023, only to return to the industry two years later.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
All through the park, competitors and onlookers hit vapes and shout tips and encouragements into trees.—
Calin Van Paris,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
-
In October 2024 ahead of her own stay at MSG, Billie Eilish recorded encouragements to take the subways for environmental benefits.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Sleeves, braces and more available.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
As a child, Smith used crutches and leg braces.—
John Beifuss,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The older one bounces his Spalding off the brick walls; the younger one digs his fingers into the box of corn flakes for the plastic prize.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And his rider, Flavien Prat, has a knack for outrunning the odds with his mounts in Triple Crown races.—
Steve Kornacki,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
-
Mike Smith has the most Derby mounts of any jockey in the race's history with 28, followed closely by Velazquez with 26.—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurs. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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