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

Relevance

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 And the jeers that White received from the home crowd at the end of pregame introductions might have spurred energy from the Fever players before and after the tilt. — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026 The hazing investigation has also spurred conversations about changes to Pennsylvania's mandatory reporting laws. — Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 Theories and debates Earhart's sudden disappearance immediately spurred a wide range of theories that sought to explain what happened to the world-famous aviator. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 But the show’s professional partners Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa have been just as important, using their own online brands to promote the show — creating hype that has since spurred the other dancers to get more involved. — Gregory Ellwood, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 This progress, however, is deeply rooted in lessons from past failures, including fatal incidents like Jesse Gelsinger's death, which spurred crucial safeguards in dose selection, adverse event reporting, and transparency. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 That has spurred a broadening of the types of marketers eager to support sports. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026 Recent disclosures about misbehavior by artificial intelligence models, including hacking into external systems, have spurred growing concern. — Ian Duncan, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2026 The lazy label attached to William in the past may have spurred him into action. — Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurred

Verb

At the same time, the bull directs a spray of urine onto the underside of his neck and then rolls about in the wallow after it is dug, continuing to urinate in the wallow.

— Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026
State lawmakers have already dug a huge pension hole for taxpayers.

— Daniel Borenstein, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of dug

Verb

After being stabbed in the ass by Northmen Roddy the Ruin (Tommy Flanagan), Ulf’s (Tom Bennett) dragon suddenly roars in from above and takes them both out in a giant ball of fire.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Kailey Erhart, 22, stabbed her 5-month-old and 3-year-old children to death on Thursday after waving a gun at her estranged husband and threatening to kill herself, according to police.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 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

As the train doors were about to close, the pair exited the train, facing off against each other, and the assailant punched the victim in the face.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
During the fight, Collins told detectives, his cousin punched his sister and threatened to kill them.

— Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2026