as in to encourage
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
the public service announcement urges pet owners to spay or neuter their pets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in desire
a strong wish for something
I'm trying to resist the urge to eat another piece of cake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of urge
Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The directive also urged governments to reduce highway speed limits and recommend use of public transportation.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
But resist the urge to schedule every hour.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for urge
Verb
Because the results failed to exonerate Duckett, Florida’s attorney general swiftly moved to lift the stay, urging the state Supreme Court to allow the execution to proceed as scheduled.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The directive also urged governments to reduce highway speed limits and recommend use of public transportation.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
Start with the evidence, set realistic timelines, and resist the urge to chase every new product that crosses your feed.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
But resist the urge to schedule every hour.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for urge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for urge
Verb
-
And there were a number of terrorist organizations that sought to encourage the British to leave, thus creating a united Ireland.—
Colm Tóibín,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Teammates encouraged her and one even lifted her chin, but the damage was done.—
David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pahlavi addressed the desire to see him the leadership role during his remarks.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The Leo moon sparks your restless desires for fun and adventure.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For a person struggling with substance abuse disorder, one strong craving can be the catalyst for a patient to completely abandon sobriety.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Poor sleep can drive cravings that will exacerbate a perimenopausal increase in appetite, so adequate rest is key.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Tension, longing, that one sizzling moment when their fingers almost brush.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
At the close of the Passover seder, and at the end of Yom Kippur, Jews declare their longing to return.—
Rabbi Tuvia Brander,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Desperate from thirst, Husayn rode out of the camp with his infant son to appeal for water, but an enemy archer shot an arrow through the child’s neck.—
Mary Thurlkill,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
-
As spring replaces winter’s chill, more people are reaching for a mix of spirits and mixers to quench their thirst.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Similarly, certain medical conditions and symptoms can also impose consistent hunger, including hypothyroidism, PMS, and perimenopause.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Thousands of miles from the Middle East, in Brazil, South Asia and East Africa, even small increases in the price of growing and transporting food can deepen hunger and strain already fragile food systems, where millions are already struggling to afford basic staples.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Urge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urge. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
