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
Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Attorneys for victims and their families had urged Bredar to preserve the current schedule for the civil trial.
—ABC News, 20 May 2026
Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
Resist the urge to add more water if it's not needed.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for urge
Verb
Prior to the vote, the council was sent a letter reportedly signed by over 400 people urging councilors to reject DeMore’s nomination.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Attorneys for victims and their families had urged Bredar to preserve the current schedule for the civil trial.
—ABC News, 20 May 2026
Noun
With the arrival of longer days and warmer air comes a natural urge to refresh the home.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
Resist the urge to add more water if it's not needed.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for urge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for urge
Verb
-
Responding to comments, asking for feedback, and giving shout-outs to active viewers fosters a sense of community and encourages continued engagement.—
Adam Rumanek,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2026
-
Techniques such as reinforcement learning from human feedback encourage the model toward preferred responses.—
Sandeep Shilawat,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
This sentiment aligns with Aries' desire to win in all areas of life.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
Marketers, in particular, have boatloads of insight into the diverse desires and habits of target audiences.—
Alex Cooper,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
What used to be a niche craving has evolved into a mainstream flavor trend, fueled by social media curiosity and brands experimenting with sour, salty profiles.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
Media companies, meanwhile, have adjusted to satiate short-form cravings, too.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Tyson Hill, who plays Lover Boy, does an incredible job communicating longing, vulnerability, humor, and the desire for companionship entirely through choreography.—
Shivani Vora,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
-
Beneath the spectacle lies a story about longing, ambition, connection and the courage to challenge a broken system.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
The common thread here is everyone has a thirst for unique experiences and adventure, exactly what Ultima Oasis affords you.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
-
Mild dehydration often shows up as fatigue before thirst registers.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
The 28-year-old takes responsibility, and her competitive hunger drives her.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
The diversity of hormone function, from milk to mood, hunger to height, does not occur through the action of any single part of our anatomy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Urge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urge. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
