1
as in bursts
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity
a spurt of economic growth for the first quarter of the year
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pours
to flow out in great quantities or with force
water spurted from the garden hose just as I was checking the nozzle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in erupts
to throw out or off (something from within) often violently
the pipe suddenly cracked and began spurting water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spurts
Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2026
Jamahl Mosley‘s group successfully shared the ball by dishing out 33 assists and defended at a high level in spurts by scoring 28 points off 20 takeaways.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
The Horned Frogs can play fast in spurts, but typically TCU uses a more deliberate pace on offense, using multiple ball screens to create the right look for Miles or her teammates.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
But recovery would come in fits and spurts.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
My limbs stilled and grew heavy in the heat, but Alice jiggled her knees up and down, bursting out with short spurts of conversation that weighed against the beauty of our silence.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
The 6-foot-4 center back played in spurts after being acquired in a trade with Dallas last year for $300,000 in general allocation money and an international roster slot.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
The Illini kept it close for much of the half, but the Wolverines showcased their ability to answer in quick spurts, scoring 10 fast-break points.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
This function is often intended to be used in short spurts.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
The flip side of all this is that Perez’s terrific career has been marked by funks and spurts … just seldom this early.
—Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2026
Jamahl Mosley‘s group successfully shared the ball by dishing out 33 assists and defended at a high level in spurts by scoring 28 points off 20 takeaways.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
The Horned Frogs can play fast in spurts, but typically TCU uses a more deliberate pace on offense, using multiple ball screens to create the right look for Miles or her teammates.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
But recovery would come in fits and spurts.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
My limbs stilled and grew heavy in the heat, but Alice jiggled her knees up and down, bursting out with short spurts of conversation that weighed against the beauty of our silence.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
The 6-foot-4 center back played in spurts after being acquired in a trade with Dallas last year for $300,000 in general allocation money and an international roster slot.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
The Illini kept it close for much of the half, but the Wolverines showcased their ability to answer in quick spurts, scoring 10 fast-break points.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
This function is often intended to be used in short spurts.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
Blood spurts against the window.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurts
Noun
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Even activities like playing video games and watching TV, according to Yasinski, can be helpful if done in short bursts.—
Lesly Gregory,
AJC.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Apply irrigation slowly, water in the early morning when temperatures are lower, and water in long sessions rather than short bursts.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Two Southwest Airlines jets got dangerously close near Nashville on Saturday, triggering collision alarms.—
Aaron Cooper,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Two French Rafale fighter jets’ two-man crews — a pilot and a navigator — were seen racing in two vans to the planes’ hangars from the headquarters building the French detachment uses during its four-month deployment on the air base.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There are cooking classes inside the gorgeous culinary center where Mediterranean sunlight pours in from floor-to-ceiling windows.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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Continue reading … IN OTHER NEWS BREWED IN THE USA — Beer giant pours $600M into US production in major bet on American growth.—
,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What follows is a crescendo of bloody madness, including a gruesome toenail cutting scene that shouldn’t be viewed while eating, a grandma being eaten alive by a pack of coyotes and a truly bonkers wake that erupts into laugh-out-loud violence thanks to a pair of dentures.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
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Chaos erupts when a bank robbery hits an otherwise unassuming town, exposing secrets the mayor (Odenkirk's real-life friend Henry Winkler) and others have hidden from Ulysses.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The latest flurries that dusted parts of the Sierra Nevada this week are unlikely to do much to ease California’s snow drought.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2026
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As the rain and snow fall, flurries can melt, mix together and refreeze just before hitting the ground, according to Jackson Macfarlane, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Boise office.—
Hali Smith
April 14,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Clarke excelled laying his body on the line to thwart shot attempts and foil odd-man rushes while remaining the Kings’ most mobile defender and their best rearguard by far with the puck.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Bain rushes the passer with bad intentions, which covers for his shorter-than-desired arm length (30 7/8 inches) for his position.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the same time, a salty liquid containing calcium chloride (a salt often used to de-ice roads) is pumped through the regenerator, which carries the heat away and ejects it to the surroundings on exit.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Feb. 2026
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Results published in Nature show that cells use bioelectricity to coordinate a complex collective behavior called extrusion, a vital process that ejects sick or struggling individual cells from tissue to maintain health and keep growth in check.—
Elise Cutts,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This time, there wasn’t nearly as long of a gap between scoring outbursts.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Director Matt Pfeiffer tries not to tie it too strongly to an extreme light or dark mood but does keep up a snappy pace, plays most of the angriest outbursts for laughs and takes good advantage of the openness of the Playhouse on Park stage area.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spurts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurts. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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