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urge 1 of 2

verb

ˈərj How to pronounce urge (audio)
Definition of urgenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

urge

2 of 2

noun

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
Verb
Local safety officials in several towns have urged caution, saying that complex technical questions about assembly techniques and fire safety must be fully answered. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026 Pembroke Pines Police Chief Jose Vargas on Wednesday made the decision to shut down all license-plate cameras in the city, a decision urged by Mayor Angelo Castillo and praised by commissioners during their regular meeting Thursday night. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
When the urge to bake strikes but a full recipe feels like too much, a mix like this keeps things simple. — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 3 Sep. 2026 Asia’s rapid data center buildout is sparking local pushback, as governments’ urge to capture value in the AI investment boom runs into constituents’ environmental and health concerns. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for urge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for urge
  1. encourage
  2. desire
  3. craving
  4. longing
  5. thirst
  6. hunger
Verb
  • Bunch said that one of his goals in the head role was to encourage Americans to embrace ambiguity and recognize that America is a complicated, multifaceted nation.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The stated purpose would be to encourage more people to fill out the forms without fear of having their privacy violated.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of encourage
Noun
  • Her work in this area could be rewarded in Europe, where there is growing frustration with the United States as a reliable partner in space and a desire to have independent access to orbit for European astronauts.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • While Smith was on the IL, backup catcher Dalton Rushing was thrown into the starting role, learning how to balance the defensive responsibility of serving as the main backstop at the major-league level with a desire to also contribute offensively.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of desire
Noun
  • Kanarek, a former heroin user, now took Suboxone to ease cravings.
    — Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
  • For customers who still miss this seasonal treat, the new mini pies will undoubtedly satisfy your craving.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of craving
Noun
  • What shines through, however, are the lively longings of Kit herself as the movie doubles down on an interest in science that is only intimated in the novel.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • As the symbols of the winter of 2026 become folk art in Minnesota, there continues to be a longing for answers, and for a recognition of the lasting damage that the surge inflicted on the state.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of longing
Noun
  • This short, high-spirited tall tale careens through an all-Black Oklahoma town bursting with gossip, humor and a thirst for justice.
    — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Anecdotally, gardeners find that thirst drives this behavior.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of thirst
Noun
  • More than half the population is estimated to need humanitarian assistance because of surging gang violence amid deepening poverty and hunger.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
  • For more than 40 years, Weld Food Bank has been fighting hunger across all of Weld County.
    — Libby Smith, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of hunger

Browse Nearby Words

urchins
urge
urged
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Cite this Entry

“Urge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urge. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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