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
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Recent Examples of urge
Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Nastro urged travelers to keep perspective if delays worsen.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 18 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Cravings, which are intense psychological urges, often arise without warning.
—Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for urge
Verb
For example, Democratic Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon recently urged mail-in voters to send in their ballots early, tying her concerns to the recent postmarking change.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Nastro urged travelers to keep perspective if delays worsen.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
Translating them today, while multiple genocides unfold in real time, means resisting the urge to soften language, avoid comparison, or shelter the past from the present.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Cravings, which are intense psychological urges, often arise without warning.
—Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for urge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for urge
Verb
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There are more than 150 miles of tunnels across nine underground levels, and guests are encouraged to lick the walls.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Virgo The Saturn-Neptune conjunction occurs in your eighth house of intimacy, intimate bonds, and shared resources, encouraging you to grapple with boundaries and limitations tied to your closest relationships.—
Maressa Brown,
InStyle,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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My time in public service has been defined by that same desire to make state government work for working people.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
People have the desire to evolve together, and get past the minor annoyances of a Gemini being too flighty for an intense Scorpio or a Leo’s dramatics overshadowing Taurus’s kindness.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These are simple enough to make on a busy weeknight but will satisfy those burger cravings.—
Phoebe Evans,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
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Seems that in this age of digital everything there’s a strong craving for a little dose of analog.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Are you trapped by nostalgia for the past or by a longing for a perfect future that hasn’t taken place yet?—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
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Silverton credits both Rosenthal’s visibility and a broader cultural longing for familiarity for the restaurant’s popularity.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Jackson’s thirst for attention began in childhood.—
Johanna Neuman,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
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While uniting the community worldwide, the fasting tradition is meant to help Muslims experience the hunger and thirst of the poor and foster empathy and generosity.—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Above all, take on a volunteer shift serving food to really get to know what hunger looks like.—
Annemarie Dooling,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Congress has dismantled one of the nation’s most effective protections against hunger while extending tax cuts to wealthy Americans and corporations.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Urge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urge. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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