as in to encourage
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
the public service announcement urges pet owners to spay or neuter their pets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in desire
a strong wish for something
I'm trying to resist the urge to eat another piece of cake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of urge
Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026
The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems were intercepting missiles and drones and urged the public to remain in safe places.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 3 Apr. 2026
Acting on sudden urges and impulses might not be a good influence for you in the long run.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for urge
Verb
Detectives urged anyone with information about the homicide to call the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
—Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026
The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems were intercepting missiles and drones and urged the public to remain in safe places.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
For pretty much every gamer alive today, those first few notes induce an almost Pavlovian response — sparking an urge to grab a controller on your lap that isn’t actually there and bringing to mind comfortable, warm memories of stomping Goombas and riding Yoshi on a quest to save Princess Peach.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 3 Apr. 2026
Acting on sudden urges and impulses might not be a good influence for you in the long run.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for urge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for urge
Verb
-
Fans are encouraged to line up on South University Drive outside the President's House, west to the Student Union, and south down State Street to Yost Ice Arena.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The Live Local Act, a state law passed in 2023 to encourage developers to build more affordable housing, is the key driving the redesign of the faded mall that gained new owners in September 2025.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her square to picky Venus, though, could pit self-care desires against home chores.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Trump has expressed a desire to push more responsibility for disasters down to states.—
Gabriela Aoun Angueira,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The market can accommodate pretty much any Italian food craving, offering everything from antipasto to Zeppole di San Giuseppe (a seasonal specialty dessert).—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
-
As with any addiction, people who stop smoking might experience cravings and withdrawals.—
Bautista Vivanco,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The astronauts’ expressions of admiration and longing for Earth echo a long history of space explorers gaining new appreciation for their home planet.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Set in Manipur, the film follows a young boy seeking to bring his absent father home, threading themes of longing, identity and fractured family life through the landscape of a border town.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After all, nothing puts a damper on a picnic faster than warm drinks — especially as temperatures rise and guests crave cold, refreshing beverages to quench their thirst.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
-
When the mood strikes for a hair refresh, even brunettes have a sudden thirst for bursts of lightened hair.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Muffuletta at Central Grocery When hunger hits, head to Central Grocery, the birthplace of the muffuletta sandwich and a NOLA original since 1906.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
From that point in the novel to its wrenching end, June searches for her baby with the passionate abandon of a first-time mother and the aching hunger of every mother separated from her child.—
Meredith Maran,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Urge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urge. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
