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
Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
Lower costs mean more supply, which in turn lowers prices and spurs more demand.
—ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2025
The kind of terrain sand spurs thrive in, especially when the grounds aren't taken care of.
—New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
Exercise spurs insulin sensitivity (the opposite of insulin resistance) by assisting insulin signaling in your muscles to take in glucose and use it as fuel.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2025
While many growth factors are human-derived (which, naturally, spurs some ethical concerns), Bioeffect’s come from barley, which Brezavscek says are still effective.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2025
New romantic alignments and realignments are introduced, exhaustingly, by the minute; every action spurs a symmetrical reaction, and every gag in the first half finds an inevitable callback in the second.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Though the active roster is always fluid, especially in late August and early September, the impending deadline spurs plenty of activity leaguewide.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
If our band spurs other people to start a band, then kudos.
—Olivia Petty, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
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
From this point of view, Xidan Books may seem to suffer from comparison with the Zhongshuge chain, whose outlets are drawing increasing numbers of Beijing readers thanks to interior design that catches the eye and spurs a desire to linger at length.
—Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
Lower costs mean more supply, which in turn lowers prices and spurs more demand.
—ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2025
The kind of terrain sand spurs thrive in, especially when the grounds aren't taken care of.
—New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
Exercise spurs insulin sensitivity (the opposite of insulin resistance) by assisting insulin signaling in your muscles to take in glucose and use it as fuel.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2025
While many growth factors are human-derived (which, naturally, spurs some ethical concerns), Bioeffect’s come from barley, which Brezavscek says are still effective.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2025
New romantic alignments and realignments are introduced, exhaustingly, by the minute; every action spurs a symmetrical reaction, and every gag in the first half finds an inevitable callback in the second.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Though the active roster is always fluid, especially in late August and early September, the impending deadline spurs plenty of activity leaguewide.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
If our band spurs other people to start a band, then kudos.
—Olivia Petty, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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
-
Alex breaks free and, in a panic, repeatedly stabs Evelyn with the syringe.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Spike takes one of Kelson's tranquilizer darts filled with morphine and stabs Samson in the arm with it.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Tesla had a first-mover advantage in China in 2013, leveraging the government’s support of EVs with subsidies and incentives and its production base and opening a gigafactory in Shanghai in 2019.—
Rebecca A. Fannin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Company finances via private and public funds, through co-productions, incentives and strategic partners.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Head Start programs with grant cycles that begin in October will likely experience disruptions in the short term, according to First Focus on Children, a bipartisan advocacy nonprofit focused on supports for women and children.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
-
This includes the Texas Family First pilot program, which received $23 million in state funding to continue the program aimed at preventing children from entering foster care through supports such as mental health and behavioral health services.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Impressionistic lyrics would fit this stuff, but Le Bon pokes the spacious haze with direct evocations of love and heartbreak.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The track pokes fun at consumerism and a materialistic society constantly seeking the next best thing, a theme that remains relevant nearly 45 years later.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ward and Curlee also started the app Counterbalance, which provides daily encouragements, recipes, community and more.—
Emy LaCroix,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Betty, a quirky Mexican American with adult braces and cute red prescription glasses, often incorporated her culture into her ensembles using bright colors and patterns, like her famous poncho with the city of Guadalajara emblazoned across the front.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
25 Sep. 2025
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Timm’s smile widened, revealing braces adorned with orange, black and white rubber bands – her personal tribute to monarch migration season.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Oct. 2025
-
As Jeanette digs deeper, Sophia begins to suspect Victoria Burkeman, her mysterious and unstable former patient who has previously been convicted of multiple murders, could be responsible.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Republicans hope that more Democratic senators will break ranks with their leadership and vote to reopen the government as pressure mounts from voters.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
When adversity mounts, when the negativity starts peaking, when a season seems poised to head off the rails, Harbaugh has shown an ability to keep everything on track.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurs. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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