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
Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Lauren the assembly line worker spurs Charlie to action.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
My boredom typically spurs feelings of frustration, guilt, shame—and long nutritionless spells of goggling, slack-jawed, at celebrity news on my phone while the world throbs around me.
—Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Stella’s restless energy in wanting to fix things spurs her to arrange an impromptu trip for them to Amsterdam.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
If this new stadium spurs surrounding economic development, not to mention environmental cleanup, there will be benefits for the entire region.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
The bank's president and chairman, John Jovanovic, told CNBC that manufacturers, which benefit the most from the reserve, are making a long-term financial commitment, while the government loan spurs private investments.
—Didi Tang, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Manufacturers, which benefit the most from the reserve, are making a long-term financial commitment, Jovanovic said, while the government loan spurs private investments.
—Didi Tang, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Harvesting the flowers spurs the plant to produce more flower buds, so pick them frequently.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026
Tim Rohan, NBC news, 16 Mar. 2026
Standing right behind the decoy, the bird cautiously sized up George, pecked him on the head, then jumped and used his spurs to knock George to the ground.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Prairie View Ranch in Morgan County CBS She recently sponsored a bill to help local governments fund the Arkansas Valley Conduit water pipeline, a 130-mile pipeline with spurs that would serve 39 communities and 50,000 people east of Pueblo.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Some say his spurs are still jingling down the hallway, chasing after her.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
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
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
Verb
Which spurs more donations from alumni and such.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Lauren the assembly line worker spurs Charlie to action.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
My boredom typically spurs feelings of frustration, guilt, shame—and long nutritionless spells of goggling, slack-jawed, at celebrity news on my phone while the world throbs around me.
—Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Stella’s restless energy in wanting to fix things spurs her to arrange an impromptu trip for them to Amsterdam.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
If this new stadium spurs surrounding economic development, not to mention environmental cleanup, there will be benefits for the entire region.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
The bank's president and chairman, John Jovanovic, told CNBC that manufacturers, which benefit the most from the reserve, are making a long-term financial commitment, while the government loan spurs private investments.
—Didi Tang, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Manufacturers, which benefit the most from the reserve, are making a long-term financial commitment, Jovanovic said, while the government loan spurs private investments.
—Didi Tang, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Harvesting the flowers spurs the plant to produce more flower buds, so pick them frequently.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
Standing right behind the decoy, the bird cautiously sized up George, pecked him on the head, then jumped and used his spurs to knock George to the ground.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Prairie View Ranch in Morgan County CBS She recently sponsored a bill to help local governments fund the Arkansas Valley Conduit water pipeline, a 130-mile pipeline with spurs that would serve 39 communities and 50,000 people east of Pueblo.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Some say his spurs are still jingling down the hallway, chasing after her.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
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
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
-
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
-
Bautista stabs and shoots his assailants in an operatic eruption of violence that is done in a single, extended shot.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County are providing about $375,000 in local tax incentives.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
-
State law restricts the city’s ability to offer certain housing incentives and prohibits rent control.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The community college is also investing in its student services and supports for basic needs to ensure 70% of its students complete a credential or transfer successfully to another institution.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Single metal, wood, or bamboo stakes can be added and tied tightly to vertical cage supports if needed.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Your 9th House of Journeys takes focus as the Moon pokes Jupiter in your more localized 3rd house.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Williams pokes a single into the right field gap for an RBI.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Hints, counsels, warnings, remonstrations, even encouragements are, in the end, of limited value.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Federal prosecutors allege the company billed Medicare and other programs for medical braces that patients did not need between 2019 and 2024.—
Sarah Volpenhein,
jsonline.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Shaw and Bosco built another company together called SB Tactical, which produces controversial arm braces for guns.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
-
During a scene from her childhood, Jane brutally digs her nails into her older brother for turning the channel away from Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ lavish 1981 wedding.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The shake-up comes as pressure mounts on software companies to show a return on AI investments, as investors worry that the models could disrupt software incumbents.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Cellphone mounts or cradles allow people to access their mobile devices at all times.—
Rachel Swan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurs. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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