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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spurs
Omid Memarian, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
Harvesting the flowers spurs the plant to produce more flower buds, so pick them frequently.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026
This spurs serious head-scratching, that’s for sure.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Train travel spurs stories and memories in a way that air travel just doesn’t.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Those spurs make flowers and fruits.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
That investment also spurs innovation in new treatments for conditions such as cancer, heart disease and obesity, Kaestner said.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025
Admired by friends and adored by women, his longing for love and recognition spurs him on.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
Their split spurs Alex’s unconventional midlife crisis, one without fancy muscle cars or a hot young babe on the arm.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
Christa Swanson, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Some say his spurs are still jingling down the hallway, chasing after her.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
Here, gravitational tides between the galaxies pull gas out of each other, forming the bridge and associated spurs.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Skechers Hands-free Go Walk Flex-relish Slip-ins Among the thousands of reviewers are nurses, teachers, and everyday people who struggle with foot problems from spurs to plantar fasciitis—all singing the praises of these Go Walk Flex-Relish Slip-ins.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
The original system, completed in 1992, took 35 years to build but since then more segments and spurs have been added onto the network.
—Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Friends and colleagues who once argued that war never spurs meaningful change now advocate for it.
—Omid Memarian, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
Harvesting the flowers spurs the plant to produce more flower buds, so pick them frequently.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026
This spurs serious head-scratching, that’s for sure.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Train travel spurs stories and memories in a way that air travel just doesn’t.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Those spurs make flowers and fruits.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
That investment also spurs innovation in new treatments for conditions such as cancer, heart disease and obesity, Kaestner said.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025
Admired by friends and adored by women, his longing for love and recognition spurs him on.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
Their split spurs Alex’s unconventional midlife crisis, one without fancy muscle cars or a hot young babe on the arm.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
Prairie View Ranch in Morgan County CBS She recently sponsored a bill to help local governments fund the Arkansas Valley Conduit water pipeline, a 130-mile pipeline with spurs that would serve 39 communities and 50,000 people east of Pueblo.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Some say his spurs are still jingling down the hallway, chasing after her.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
Here, gravitational tides between the galaxies pull gas out of each other, forming the bridge and associated spurs.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Skechers Hands-free Go Walk Flex-relish Slip-ins Among the thousands of reviewers are nurses, teachers, and everyday people who struggle with foot problems from spurs to plantar fasciitis—all singing the praises of these Go Walk Flex-Relish Slip-ins.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
The original system, completed in 1992, took 35 years to build but since then more segments and spurs have been added onto the network.
—Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurs
Verb
-
Milo tries to be a hero, trying to use pepper spray on Morgan, but Morgan stabs and kills him.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Percy, now carrying the Golden Fleece, runs toward the elevator, but Luke stabs him through the closing doors.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The latest changes include financial incentives for appropriate downtown commercial-to-residential conversion projects, including a 100% waiver of building and construction taxes and a 50% reduction of park impact fees for the first 500 units, as the office market continues to struggle.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
It was unlocked because complexity was removed, incentives were aligned, and capital was forced to reprice assets independently.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Her son, Daniel, is on the autism spectrum, and Keane recalled a debate in the early 2010s over whether to increase funding for mental health supports.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
26 Jan. 2026
-
This refers to a series of policies in Mississippi that were focused on improving childhood literacy, including student supports, a focus on phonics, tutoring, accountability metrics and teacher training programs.—
Emma Murphy,
Oklahoma Voice,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Moon also pokes lucky Jupiter in your very own sign, which pushes you to show up boldly without overextending yourself.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Is every head that pokes in to look at me actually Frank himself?—
Shane Kowalski,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
In October 2024 ahead of her own stay at MSG, Billie Eilish recorded encouragements to take the subways for environmental benefits.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Hints, counsels, warnings, remonstrations, even encouragements are, in the end, of limited value.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The elaborate operation involved shipping thousands of medically unnecessary orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries across the country and billing taxpayers for the cost.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Another complaint said a woman in a wheelchair received braces from the company but did not order them and can’t use them due to her mobility issues.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Woodland will close in Riverwest at the end of May and reopen in its new Bay View digs this fall.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The comparatively uptight Pari (Mahshad Bahraminejad) mounts nonlinear plays that depict the intrusion of political anxiety on everyday Iranian spaces.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Escondido is one of several San Diego County cities that have seen public demonstrations against ICE tactics in recent weeks as the violence mounts in Minnesota.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurs. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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