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
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
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
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
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
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
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
-
The suspect pounces on Ennin while the victim is down and stabs him multiple times before running off.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
After Fiona confesses to killing Willem, a raging Constance stabs Dahlia.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Kansas and Missouri have spent the past 18 months trying to secure the team through sweeping stadium-funding incentives packages — which the Chiefs used last month to announce their intentions for a move to Kansas.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The country is largely focused on a self-sufficiency drive to build up its chipmaking capabilities, a push that’s included readying a new round of incentives of as much as $70 billion for the chip sector.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In countries with universal health care and stronger social supports, families may have fewer barriers to follow-up care.—
Uché Blackstock,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Among the 13 categories deemed high risk for fraud are adult companion, day and rehabilitative mental health services, individualized home supports, residential treatment services and more.—
Riley Moser,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Is every head that pokes in to look at me actually Frank himself?—
Shane Kowalski,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
-
The Aries moon pokes holes in old insecurities about competence and productivity.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
28 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
-
Pam takes a seat in a blue-and-chrome chair and looks at Bella as a tiny girl on the beach and Bella in her choir robe and Bella smiling with braces on her teeth.—
Allegra Goodman,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
-
The sort of uncool even someone very uncool like me would have known enough to conceal—me who wore khakis and played oboe and had braces and yes for a phase had basically no friends.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Bryant Jonesboro Basketball Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Erick Taylor,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
-
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
-
The items include bed frames, bedding, pillows, white-noise machines, area rugs, desk chairs, TVs and TV mounts.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
When staffing dips, the pressure mounts.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurs. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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