as in stabbing
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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Recent Examples of spurring
Many gig workers also operate across multiple brands and industries, spurring a cross-pollination of ideas that sharpens their work, fuels continuous improvement, and creates a more empathetic, modern approach to customer experience.
—
Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
His death is again spurring conversation around political violence in America – and what can be done about it.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Nepalis struggle with per capita annual income of less than $1,400, while youth unemployment stands at around 20%, spurring more than 2,000 young people to leave the country every day to seek work overseas, mainly in the Middle East.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
The California Energy Commission has since walked back plans to impose a profit cap on refiners, a key factor in spurring recent plant closures.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
Councilmember Kent Lee said San Diego’s efforts to solve the housing crisis have focused too much on spurring more production and not enough on preserving the existing stock of more affordable homes.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
California is the biggest target after the state self-reported overcharging the federal government for health care services delivered to immigrants without legal status, determined to be at least $500 million, spurring the threat of a lawsuit.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2025
And in an endless flood of content from wedding planning vlogs to bridal get-ready-with-mes on social media, some people want their weddings to stand out — spurring add-ons like vintage photo booths, mocktail mixologists and even live painters.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
The seemingly ever-present A-lister has graced magazine covers for three decades, her haircut spurring thousands of women to lop off their long locks in the '90s.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
His death is again spurring conversation around political violence in America – and what can be done about it.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Nepalis struggle with per capita annual income of less than $1,400, while youth unemployment stands at around 20%, spurring more than 2,000 young people to leave the country every day to seek work overseas, mainly in the Middle East.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
The California Energy Commission has since walked back plans to impose a profit cap on refiners, a key factor in spurring recent plant closures.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
Councilmember Kent Lee said San Diego’s efforts to solve the housing crisis have focused too much on spurring more production and not enough on preserving the existing stock of more affordable homes.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
California is the biggest target after the state self-reported overcharging the federal government for health care services delivered to immigrants without legal status, determined to be at least $500 million, spurring the threat of a lawsuit.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2025
And in an endless flood of content from wedding planning vlogs to bridal get-ready-with-mes on social media, some people want their weddings to stand out — spurring add-ons like vintage photo booths, mocktail mixologists and even live painters.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
The seemingly ever-present A-lister has graced magazine covers for three decades, her haircut spurring thousands of women to lop off their long locks in the '90s.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurring
Verb
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The video shows Brown seated behind the victim before pulling out a folding knife and stabbing her multiple times without provocation.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Around four minutes later, the man pulls out a knife and begins stabbing Zarutska three times, including at least once in the neck.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In 2009, Tropicana replaced its familiar logo, an orange with a straw poking out, with a minimalist design featuring a glass of orange juice.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Routh allegedly came within a few hundred yards of Trump before a Secret Service agent spotted his rifle poking out of a tree line.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Wissa was an important signing, someone to take the pressure off Woltemade while simultaneously prodding him.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On a moonless night in January, a gargantuan turtle was digging a nest high up on a soft sand beach at Galathea Bay on the Great Nicobar Island in the Indian Ocean.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Dogs have a way of surprising their owners with strange, determined behaviors—but few are as dramatic as Rosie's relentless digging spree.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Taddese is on the ground, bent over, face down, as a man kicks him, and the woman who was pushed, dressed in a black jumpsuit and barefoot, gets up and begins punching him.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
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Samirah, the central performer, entrances Billie—her lyrics punching over vibrating beats, her voice gritty and sultry.—
Lauren Morrow
September 9,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Brook Health can respond to the data in real time—nudging patients to remind them when to take their vitals and providing health recommendations when needed.—
Alexis Kayser,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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Before September comes to a close, however, your passion intensifies, as do questions around intimacy, shared investments and desire, nudging you to create a healthy balance in your love life.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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All we were focused on was just containing him, knocking the pocket back, just trying to keep him in the pocket, and forcing the football.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
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No texts, no phone calls, no IMs—just walking over to their house, knocking on the door, and hanging out together?—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Daniel yells after jabbing his net into the bank.—
Wesley Bruer,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
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Gunn starts jabbing his fingers into Corenswet’s chest.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurring. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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