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
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
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
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
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
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
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
-
The incentives operate on a rolling basis to accommodate the industry’s unpredictable timelines.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In September, the Greek government announced new tax incentives designed to address the birth rate decline.—
Sarah McCammon,
NPR,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Each measurement ensures that the additional supports will hold the tree evenly, preventing stress on the branches during winter storms.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Many have expressed concern about the aging pipes over several years, as anchor strikes, missing pipeline supports and loss of protective pipeline coating have been discovered.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The neck of his daughter's guitar pokes out above chunks of concrete.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Who else pokes holes in this claim?—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Oct. 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
-
Supportive footwear or braces can also be helpful, when needed.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Playing Tootie, Fields made braces cool — and got into plenty of trou-ble with her penchant for gossip.—
Michele Corriston,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Ella McCarthy,
Arkansas Online,
31 Oct. 2025
-
LaFreniere digs a hole to hold a pipe, places bait at the bottom, and positions the pipe near a mature tree to anchor the cable.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Rispoli could have as many as five other Breeders’ Cup mounts, though apart from Johannes in the Mile, all will be long shots.—
Jay Posner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Smith suffuses the book with a kind of clinical detachment, even as the dread mounts with each page.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurs. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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