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 Strong consumer demand for digital-first experiences and digital money has spurred innovation, and central banks are fostering this through sandboxes and programs that connect banks, vendors and regulators. — Maghnus Mareneck, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 In a cafe in Mexico City once in the mid-Fifties, Pan spurred Rivera into a debate that Pan believed to have led Rivera to change the most controversial element in one of his most scandalous works. — David Hajdu, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026 That is the million-dollar question right now that has spurred plenty of conversation within the college football community. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026 State officials tout the project as a bucket-list destination and massive restoration effort, but a CEQA exemption has spurred concern among tribes and environmentalists. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 The repeal of the rules in the mid-90s spurred a wave of vertical integration, as Disney acquired Capital Cities/ABC and Viacom acquired CBS. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026 But for Jessica, reaching her childhood home in Huntington Beach spurred reminders of what was missing. — Norma Galeana, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026 The admission has spurred calls for changes to the museum’s verification process. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 In September, 75% of stocks in the S&P 500 closed in negative territory, as the threat of higher interest rates spurred investors back into a few mega-cap companies. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurred

Verb

The music on Uncle feels innate, as if Funkhouser had dug these songs out from deep within the crawlspace in his brain.

— Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
After a slow start dug a 24-point hole, the Falcons marched within one possession late, but still fell short.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of dug

Verb

After losing in 2024, McGinn has repeatedly raised concerns on the campaign trail about Bradley’s absence from a vote in the Senate on legislation named for the Ukrainian refugee fatally stabbed on Charlotte’s light rail.

— Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026
As seen on a surveillance video, the man walked up to the victim, grabbed him, and stabbed him multiple times before fleeing from the scene.

— Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of stabbed

Verb

Builders, prodded to work beyond city limits, adopted Olmsted’s vision for what those suburbs should look like.

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
She's trekked the Indian Himalayas, chanted with with Buddhist monks in Laos, chatted with a ghost in Bali and has been repeatedly poked, prodded and pummelled in the name of wellness.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of prodded

Verb

Kessler, standing nearby during Williams’ postgame news conference, poked his head out from behind a black curtain and gave his teammate a thumbs-up.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Already poked, the league bear hasn’t exactly gone into hibernation, either.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of poked

Verb

The 25-year-old who was punched refused medical attention at the scene.

— Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
The Rays punched their ticket to baseball’s biggest stage with a 7-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, taking the best-of-seven series four games to two.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of punched

Verb

Garrett, the best defensive player of the post-Aaron Donald era, fittingly goaded the legend out of retirement.

— Jeff Howe, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Or Pablo Picasso, goaded into radicalism by the latest bizarre creations of Matisse, retreating to the Spanish mountain village of Gósol and, mere months later, beginning work on his proto-cubist masterpiece, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.

— Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of goaded

Verb

Before the glitter from the Knicks’ meat-hook sized rings stopped shimmering, the NBA nudged everyone along to the new season.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
What unfolded instead was a traffic jam on the right side before Walker cut back left, Mahomes nudged a linebacker off his course and Walker hit the crease and dived into the end zone.

— Sam McDowell October 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of nudged

Verb

NorCal Resist posted footage of the collision to their social media pages, showing a man, Antonio Moreida, being knocked to the ground.

— Richard Ramos, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Council was referring to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when Bryant, on the first possession of a group-stage game against Spain, ran through a screen set by then-Lakers teammate Pau Gasol and knocked him to the floor.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026