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
Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Stella’s restless energy in wanting to fix things spurs her to arrange an impromptu trip for them to Amsterdam.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
If this new stadium spurs surrounding economic development, not to mention environmental cleanup, there will be benefits for the entire region.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
The bank's president and chairman, John Jovanovic, told CNBC that manufacturers, which benefit the most from the reserve, are making a long-term financial commitment, while the government loan spurs private investments.
—Didi Tang, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Manufacturers, which benefit the most from the reserve, are making a long-term financial commitment, Jovanovic said, while the government loan spurs private investments.
—Didi Tang, Fortune, 4 Feb. 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
Those spurs make flowers and fruits.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 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
My boredom typically spurs feelings of frustration, guilt, shame—and long nutritionless spells of goggling, slack-jawed, at celebrity news on my phone while the world throbs around me.
—Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Stella’s restless energy in wanting to fix things spurs her to arrange an impromptu trip for them to Amsterdam.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
If this new stadium spurs surrounding economic development, not to mention environmental cleanup, there will be benefits for the entire region.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
The bank's president and chairman, John Jovanovic, told CNBC that manufacturers, which benefit the most from the reserve, are making a long-term financial commitment, while the government loan spurs private investments.
—Didi Tang, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Manufacturers, which benefit the most from the reserve, are making a long-term financial commitment, Jovanovic said, while the government loan spurs private investments.
—Didi Tang, Fortune, 4 Feb. 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
Those spurs make flowers and fruits.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 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
-
Bautista stabs and shoots his assailants in an operatic eruption of violence that is done in a single, extended shot.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Another reason is that in many European leagues, a large share of broadcasting revenue comes from viewers’ pay-TV subscriptions, negating some of the incentives behind sweeping ad rollouts.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Plano city leaders later agreed to give AT&T $20 million in incentives and a lengthy property tax rebate for the firm to build its new global headquarters.—
Nick Wooten,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
What skills, supports or alternatives were unavailable?—
Gwilym Roddick,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
-
These life-size sculptures are fixed to walls with metal supports, placed on chairs to register bodily scale, or positioned on the floor in juxtaposition with larger compositions.—
Li Qi,
Artforum,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Williams pokes a single into the right field gap for an RBI.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
-
One TikTok video with over 949,000 likes pokes fun at Kempczinski's review by using similar wording to judge other McDonald's items.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
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
-
Shaw and Bosco built another company together called SB Tactical, which produces controversial arm braces for guns.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The Everyday Appeal of Tennis Bracelets Tennis braces were once reserved for formal events.—
Malana VanTayler,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Actor Jason Statham’s Sunset Plaza digs by the company is one example, as is designer Jenni Kayne’s Beverly Hills mansion.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As their bold production takes shape, a rival white theatre mounts its own Richard III just blocks away, threatening to undermine, overshadow, and outmaneuver them.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Vivo partnered with SmallRig, which made a pro-grade camera cage with cold shoe mounts for things like external flashes, microphones, and grips.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurs. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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