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
New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
Exercise spurs insulin sensitivity (the opposite of insulin resistance) by assisting insulin signaling in your muscles to take in glucose and use it as fuel.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2025
While many growth factors are human-derived (which, naturally, spurs some ethical concerns), Bioeffect’s come from barley, which Brezavscek says are still effective.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2025
New romantic alignments and realignments are introduced, exhaustingly, by the minute; every action spurs a symmetrical reaction, and every gag in the first half finds an inevitable callback in the second.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Though the active roster is always fluid, especially in late August and early September, the impending deadline spurs plenty of activity leaguewide.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
If our band spurs other people to start a band, then kudos.
—Olivia Petty, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
And a woman’s viral saga about falling in love with her psychiatrist spurs an existential question about AI chatbots.
—Josh Feldman, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2025
People move to the region for months at a time to work on these shows, which in turn spurs dollars spent at hotels and restaurants and entertainment areas like the Stockyards.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2025
Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
The original system, completed in 1992, took 35 years to build but since then more segments and spurs have been added onto the network.
—Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
The kind of terrain sand spurs thrive in, especially when the grounds aren't taken care of.
—New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
Exercise spurs insulin sensitivity (the opposite of insulin resistance) by assisting insulin signaling in your muscles to take in glucose and use it as fuel.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2025
While many growth factors are human-derived (which, naturally, spurs some ethical concerns), Bioeffect’s come from barley, which Brezavscek says are still effective.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2025
New romantic alignments and realignments are introduced, exhaustingly, by the minute; every action spurs a symmetrical reaction, and every gag in the first half finds an inevitable callback in the second.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Though the active roster is always fluid, especially in late August and early September, the impending deadline spurs plenty of activity leaguewide.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
If our band spurs other people to start a band, then kudos.
—Olivia Petty, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
And a woman’s viral saga about falling in love with her psychiatrist spurs an existential question about AI chatbots.
—Josh Feldman, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2025
People move to the region for months at a time to work on these shows, which in turn spurs dollars spent at hotels and restaurants and entertainment areas like the Stockyards.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
Skechers Hands-free Go Walk Flex-relish Slip-ins Among the thousands of reviewers are nurses, teachers, and everyday people who struggle with foot problems from spurs to plantar fasciitis—all singing the praises of these Go Walk Flex-Relish Slip-ins.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
The original system, completed in 1992, took 35 years to build but since then more segments and spurs have been added onto the network.
—Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurs
Verb
-
After a dramatic confrontation among all parties, Jonah stabs Henry in the chest and shoots him point-blank in the head.—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The video shows Zarutska sit in a seat in front of Brown, who fixates on her and after several minutes pulls out a knife and stabs her several times in the neck, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.—
Danielle Battaglia,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Green technologies may qualify for financial incentives.—
Michaila Byrne,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
In the past few decades market mechanisms and financial incentives to address deforestation have been implemented, notably in regions with high rates of deforestation through jurisdictional REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) programs.—
Robert G. Eccles,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These supports also would be integrated in the Administration’s Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) demonstration model.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Changes to food assistance, Medicaid eligibility, and tax credits may reduce critical supports for low-income households.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The brand’s giant green owl mascot dances badly, makes obscure pop culture references and pokes fun at the company’s push notifications.—
Leeron Walter,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Like his contemporaries, Meyers often pokes fun at the ongoing actions of the president and his administration on Late Night.—
Emlyn Travis Updated,
EW.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Ward and Curlee also started the app Counterbalance, which provides daily encouragements, recipes, community and more.—
Emy LaCroix,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Real Madrid and Marseille last met back in the 2009-10 group stage, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored braces in both the home and away fixtures.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In practice, the change in step functions similarly to certain knee braces, Uhlrich said.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Sep. 2025
-
This assessment digs deeper than your typical blood test or yearly check-up.—
Dana Ingemann,
Health,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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As public and political pressure mounts, schools must decide whether to back their teachers' or professors' right to speak freely or drop staff a couple of months into the school year.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The outsized nature of HALA’s Series B round reflects the company’s desire to continue expanding its range of services and to reach more of the market – and to do so as quickly as possible as competition mounts up.—
David Prosser,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurs. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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