Thesaurus results for SPURRED

spurred

verb

Definition of spurred

past tense of spur

as in dug

to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object gently spurred the horse with his heels

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 spurred That effort was spurred by what union members claim were execrable working conditions to which they were subjected during the recent heat wave that gripped London. — News Desk, Artforum, 30 July 2026 Pragiwaksono’s arrival in America spurred something of a comedic identity crisis. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 30 July 2026 Her loss, however, spurred a deeper bond between Orzabal and Smith, as the pair had periods of drifting apart throughout the decades. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 30 July 2026 That day, Wells was one of a few Black kids in a group of mostly white friends, and his death has spurred national conversations about interracial friendships, systemic racism in the South, and whether Black people are safe in majority-white spaces. — Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2026 Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren began their respective 25-percent-of-the-cap max contract extensions this offseason, which is what spurred the Wiggins, Joe and Dort salary dumps. — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Over the next few days, anger directed at Chafin spurred the miners to resume their march. — Elijah Tanall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026 The fire also spurred evacuation orders and warnings, which remained in place Monday. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 28 July 2026 Khan said he is concerned by a rise in hate crimes targeting Muslims and Jews, spurred in part by conflicts in the Middle East. — ABC News, 23 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurred

Verb

Another unidentified bear later dug the cub and dragged the the body away.

— Annie Colbert, Popular Science, 29 July 2026
As a result, the mayor has dug heavily into the police department budget, alongside the budgets of every other city department.

— Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 29 July 2026

Definition of dug

Verb

Carlos Dominguez stabbed two people to death in Davis and nearly killed a third.

— Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026
Ethan Chapin, 20; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Madison Mogen, 21, were fatally stabbed in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, in Moscow, Idaho, authorities said.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 27 July 2026

Definition of stabbed

Verb

And along with the documentary, you get prodded into recall again.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026
On cross-examination, defense attorney Blair Berk prodded Wallace to admit that her chemical analysis — done months after prosecutors believe Burke turned his garage into an abattoir — did not definitively prove the presence of blood.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of prodded

Verb

Offering a clever twist, the warm cake is poked with the handle of a wooden spoon, creating space for a vanilla-pineapple pudding to sink deep into the crumb.

— Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
Let sit at room temperature until buns are puffed and expanded to edges of muffin cups (dough will spring back when poked but hold a slight indentation), 25–35 minutes.

— Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of poked

Verb

Yes, Governor Kazuo Ueda nudged rates to a 31‑year high of 1% in mid‑June.

— William Pesek, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
No team has embraced the Rubik’s Cube nature of the three-team trade like the Rays, who have nudged their way into five of the past six three-way swaps.

— Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of nudged

Verb

As Occhicone knocked on windows and doors, he was confronted by Gerrity's 66-year-old father, Raymon Artzner.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 July 2026
In one photo, Bloom appeared to have just popped his head out of the water as Laemmel approached, and in another, the model wrapped her arms around the actor before — as seen in another snap — a wave knocked Bloom over into the water.

— Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026