Synonyms of spurs

spurs 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spur

as in stabs

to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object

gently spurred the horse with his heels

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stabs
• pokes
• digs
• prods
• goads
• punches
• knocks
• nudges
• propels
• jabs
• drives
• jogs
• bores
• perforates
• drills
• sticks
• pierces
• pricks
• punctures
• chucks
• hales

spurs

2 of 2

noun

plural of spur

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

• incentives
• encouragements
• impetuses
• motivations
• catalysts
• goads
• fuels
• stimulants
• boosts
• stimuli
• yeasts
• impulses
• causes
• reasons
• momenta
• shots in the arm
• incitements
• incitations
• provocations
• inducements
• instigations
• sparks
• invitations
• considerations
• motives
• grounds
• antecedents
• catalyzers
• occasions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disincentives
• counterincentives

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

• supports
• braces
• mounts
• shores
• reinforcements
• pillars
• buttresses
• props
• mountings
• stays
• columns
• underpinnings
• brackets
• foundations
• arches
• crutches
• trusses
• bolsters
• stands
• pedestals
• shorings
• pilasters
• pegs
• stakes
• bearings
• struts
• cantilevers
• girders
• frames
• stilts
• stanchions
• posts
• bases

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spurs

Verb

Her biggest hope for Matthew’s next four years is that his presence at school spurs a greater understanding and compassion for folks with special needs among the general student population. — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026

An alarming downside is that this openly spurs an AI to potentially wreak havoc and commit cyberattacks throughout the Internet, even though it is seemingly only being tested. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Hunger, in turn, fights against weight loss and possibly even spurs more weight gain. — Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026

Don’t Fertilize Fertilizer spurs grass to grow quickly and growth demands carbohydrates which are in short supply during a heat wave. — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2026

This combination captures people’s moral attention and spurs them to action. — Jen Cole Wright, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026

Utility costs are climbing nationwide as demand surges to feed energy-hungry data centers, and climate change spurs costly upgrades. — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026

More workers filling jobs and spending money spurs economic expansion, creating more jobs. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 July 2026

The solar eclipse in Leo on August 12 spurs new account activity and perhaps even cosigns an important transaction. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026

Noun

One exhibit brings together the then-future president’s buckskin jacket and pants, his rifle, Tiffany knife, his spurs, and his branding irons. — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026

But aside from gifting Zane with spurs, Beth’s more or less a spectator through all of the Jackson family drama. — Noel Murray, Vulture, 19 June 2026

Yeezy works into the evening, hacking at jagged spurs of plastic and tapping away with a special brass gunsmith’s hammer. — Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026

Gold and silver metallic tones can also be used to evoke the look of belt buckles, spurs, and other metallic accessories. — Elle Turner, Glamour, 31 May 2026

Spain’s Rif War, where future Spanish dictator Francisco Franco won his spurs, served as a crucible for the values and military tactics of the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War where Franco treated his Republican enemy with the same humanity dealt out to Rif inhabitants. — John Hopewell, Variety, 12 May 2026

Columbine is an early-season bloomer with nectar-rich spurs, giving your garden a head start in spring. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026

Pairing it with columbine, an early-season bloomer with nectar-rich spurs, ensures your garden has food available from the start. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026

Columbine — An early-season bloomer with nectar-rich spurs, perfect for getting hummingbird activity started in spring. — Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026