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
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Recent Examples of spurs
Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 2 June 2026
Then Charlotte’s decision to sell their late father’s robotics company—and with it, beings like Cy—spurs Grayson into action, stealing the flash drive with all the company secrets and towing Cy along on his attempt at a corporate takeover.
—Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
The per-unit tax abatement program spurs the production of affordable housing without direct public subsidy.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
His incarceration doesn't last long, though, because a taunting serial killer spurs a prison break.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Weather impacts of super El Niños El Niño spurs a broad range of weather impacts across the globe, including in parts of the United States.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 15 May 2026
What few efforts do exist to address alcohol’s harms have been overshadowed by the opioid crisis, a parallel drug epidemic that attracts more funding, spurs more policy change, and garners more media attention despite being vastly less deadly.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 12 May 2026
The Handling Speciale, at least on paper, only spurs that sentiment on.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2026
Any diamond spurs questions about its carat size, which experts believe can be anywhere between five and 10 carats.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
Elle Turner, Glamour, 31 May 2026
Spain’s Rif War, where future Spanish dictator Francisco Franco won his spurs, served as a crucible for the values and military tactics of the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War where Franco treated his Republican enemy with the same humanity dealt out to Rif inhabitants.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 12 May 2026
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
Verb
But the immune system has sensed that something is wrong, and spurs a more brute force reaction.
—Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 2 June 2026
Then Charlotte’s decision to sell their late father’s robotics company—and with it, beings like Cy—spurs Grayson into action, stealing the flash drive with all the company secrets and towing Cy along on his attempt at a corporate takeover.
—Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
The per-unit tax abatement program spurs the production of affordable housing without direct public subsidy.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
His incarceration doesn't last long, though, because a taunting serial killer spurs a prison break.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Weather impacts of super El Niños El Niño spurs a broad range of weather impacts across the globe, including in parts of the United States.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 15 May 2026
What few efforts do exist to address alcohol’s harms have been overshadowed by the opioid crisis, a parallel drug epidemic that attracts more funding, spurs more policy change, and garners more media attention despite being vastly less deadly.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 12 May 2026
The Handling Speciale, at least on paper, only spurs that sentiment on.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2026
Any diamond spurs questions about its carat size, which experts believe can be anywhere between five and 10 carats.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
Gold and silver metallic tones can also be used to evoke the look of belt buckles, spurs, and other metallic accessories.
—Elle Turner, Glamour, 31 May 2026
Spain’s Rif War, where future Spanish dictator Francisco Franco won his spurs, served as a crucible for the values and military tactics of the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War where Franco treated his Republican enemy with the same humanity dealt out to Rif inhabitants.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 12 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurs
Verb
-
His right-hand man, Bishop, pulls an Iago on him and stabs him in the back by emptying his bullets.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
1 June 2026
-
The shower curtain opens, revealing an old woman, who stabs and decapitates Mary.—
Therie Hendrey-Seabrook,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
South Korea’s Serious Accidents Punishment Act holds executives legally accountable for fatal workplace accidents, creating additional incentives for companies to automate potentially hazardous tasks.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
The answer comes down to incentives.—
Mark Lewyn,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Structural issues in the roof have forced staff to install pipe jacks as temporary supports, and Leonard acknowledged the situation is unsustainable.—
Kevin Strong,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
If the county reinforces only the bridge but leaves the stream banks unstable, high-velocity water that caused the initial damage may continue to wash away the ground around the new supports.—
Sofia Montoya-Deck,
Baltimore Sun,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
In it, Grace can be seen playing a racing game while the Mallrats creator pokes fun at her driving skills.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
-
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander apparently isn’t amused by a new board game that pokes fun at the Oklahoma City Thunder star’s reputation for garnering foul calls at the hint of contact by an opposing player.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 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
-
The discrepancy stems from Medicare not paying all of his bills for thousands of orthotic braces.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
-
Mazumder worked in internal medicine, and as an independent contractor signed more than 3,000 orders for unnecessary medical equipment like orthopedic braces for people insured by Medicare and TRICARE, a medical program for active and retired military personnel and their families.—
Julia Coin
June 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 June 2026
-
In the herb garden beside her home on Colorado Avenue, Cathi Murray digs through the soil and pulls out two glittering black rocks.—
Christiana Freitag,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
One of the main impetuses for this is that newer planes are flying further, which means airline routes are getting longer.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurs. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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