Synonyms of spurs

spurs 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spur

as in stabs

to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object

gently spurred the horse with his heels

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stabs
• pokes
• digs
• prods
• goads
• punches
• knocks
• nudges
• propels
• jabs
• drives
• jogs
• bores
• perforates
• drills
• sticks
• pierces
• pricks
• punctures
• chucks
• hales

spurs

2 of 2

noun

plural of spur

1

as in incentives

something that arouses action or activity

the threat of losing its only sports franchise was the spur the city council needed to finally do something about the rising crime rate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• incentives
• encouragements
• impetuses
• motivations
• catalysts
• goads
• fuels
• stimulants
• boosts
• stimuli
• yeasts
• impulses
• causes
• reasons
• momenta
• shots in the arm
• incitements
• incitations
• provocations
• inducements
• instigations
• sparks
• invitations
• considerations
• motives
• grounds
• antecedents
• catalyzers
• occasions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disincentives
• counterincentives

2

as in supports

a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else

a weak wall that might need a spur

Synonyms & Similar Words

• supports
• braces
• mounts
• shores
• reinforcements
• pillars
• buttresses
• props
• mountings
• stays
• columns
• underpinnings
• brackets
• foundations
• arches
• crutches
• trusses
• bolsters
• stands
• pedestals
• shorings
• pilasters
• pegs
• stakes
• bearings
• struts
• cantilevers
• girders
• frames
• stilts
• stanchions
• posts
• bases

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spurs

Verb

In that Television Academy interview, Brown spoke of what spurs him to create something new. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 July 2026

Team mentality spurs decisions The A’s were sitting at 40-44 heading into Tuesday, three games out of the American League West lead and 2 1/2 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

Badly wounded in a battle of revenge, Robin Hood is brought to a priory and tended by Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer), whose generosity awakens his finer feelings and spurs him to virtuous, self-sacrificing action. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 26 June 2026

Supporters say the law expands options for families and spurs school improvement all around — especially in districts with subpar schools. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026

But the immune system has sensed that something is wrong, and spurs a more brute force reaction. — Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 2 June 2026

Then Charlotte’s decision to sell their late father’s robotics company—and with it, beings like Cy—spurs Grayson into action, stealing the flash drive with all the company secrets and towing Cy along on his attempt at a corporate takeover. — Literary Hub, 1 June 2026

The per-unit tax abatement program spurs the production of affordable housing without direct public subsidy. — Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

His incarceration doesn't last long, though, because a taunting serial killer spurs a prison break. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026

Noun

One exhibit brings together the then-future president’s buckskin jacket and pants, his rifle, Tiffany knife, his spurs, and his branding irons. — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026

But aside from gifting Zane with spurs, Beth’s more or less a spectator through all of the Jackson family drama. — Noel Murray, Vulture, 19 June 2026

Yeezy works into the evening, hacking at jagged spurs of plastic and tapping away with a special brass gunsmith’s hammer. — Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026

Gold and silver metallic tones can also be used to evoke the look of belt buckles, spurs, and other metallic accessories. — Elle Turner, Glamour, 31 May 2026

Spain’s Rif War, where future Spanish dictator Francisco Franco won his spurs, served as a crucible for the values and military tactics of the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War where Franco treated his Republican enemy with the same humanity dealt out to Rif inhabitants. — John Hopewell, Variety, 12 May 2026

Columbine is an early-season bloomer with nectar-rich spurs, giving your garden a head start in spring. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026

Pairing it with columbine, an early-season bloomer with nectar-rich spurs, ensures your garden has food available from the start. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026

Columbine — An early-season bloomer with nectar-rich spurs, perfect for getting hummingbird activity started in spring. — Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026