spurred

Definition of spurrednext
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 Shares in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan rebounded from earlier losses spurred by selling of technology companies due to concerns over the sustainability of the boom in artificial intelligence. ABC News, 30 June 2026 The crime spurred long-running conversations in her home about crime, punishment and how society should respond after someone commits an act of violence. Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 Apple Stores, early on, weren’t meeting projections and costs were always high, but over time innovation spurred traffic and productivity. David Moin, Footwear News, 26 June 2026 Gore’s call to action spurred expensive emissions reductions. Bjorn Lomborg, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for spurred
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurred
Verb
  • Each of the nine San Diego batters got his chance against Sasaki in the second, and the team quickly dug the Dodgers into a six-run hole.
    Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Allin responds by saying that if that's what Knight wants, he's dug his own grave.
    Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Aemond kills the old man anyway, and then kills his sons, though not before being stabbed in the back himself.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026
  • When Chox Choc’s uncle tried to intervene, the teen stabbed him in the heart as well, the prosecutor said.
    John Annese, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Lawyers for Julia Ormond are looking to have the court issue a bench warrant for the arrest of CAA cofounder Michael Ovitz for walking out of a deposition after being prodded about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2026
  • Some lawmakers openly prodded Netanyahu on Monday to move closer to the US by seeking to bolster negotiations on winding down the war.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • Griffin also poked at the cohosts in the immediate aftermath of Hasselbeck and former View moderator Rosie O'Donnell's legendary on-air fight in 2007, as Griffin was a guest host the following day and brought up the incident numerous times — which annoyed Walters in the moment.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 24 June 2026
  • Late in the third, the Knights seemed to retake the lead after Pavel Dorofeyev poked home a loose puck.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Algeria turned up the pressure in the second half and had multiple shots on goal that Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila punched away, but a corner kick in the 69th minute proved to be the Jordanian keeper’s kryptonite.
    Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 23 June 2026
  • At least in comparison to Gragson being punched by Ross Chastain at the Kansas Speedway three years ago.
    Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Anthony provoked and goaded Metcalf, Wirskye said.
    Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026
  • In the ensuing chaos, one of those two young men takes the stage, goaded on by his friend, and soon has the audience dancing to his melodies and words.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 22 May 2026
Verb
  • Bing Thomas ran over to me and nudged Ted Waters aside.
    Will Mackin, New Yorker, 28 June 2026
  • The other day, when the top golfer on earth, Scottie Scheffler, scorched the course with a 60, a fan with a little buzz going nudged me on my way out to the parking lot.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Tatis led off and knocked Boyd's fifth pitch over the left-field bleachers onto Waveland Avenue, before Chicago answered in the bottom of the inning when Seiya Suzuki scored on Carson Kelly's RBI single.
    CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Kale said her 11-year-old and 16-year-old sons knocked the bat off her and killed it.
    Kelli Arseneau, USA Today, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Spurred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurred. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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