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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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
Officials urged those with flu-like symptoms in the area to seek medical attention. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 6 July 2026 Ukraine rejects that assertion and Zelenskyy urged Putin last month to hold a one-on-one meeting with him, but the Kremlin leader refused. — Reuters, NBC news, 5 July 2026
Noun
Libra September 23 – October 22 Ambitions rise while playful urges tug back. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2026 Almost a visceral urge to answer criticism. — Time, Time, 26 June 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
  • Early on, Whalen had encouraged a fruit plate, paired with California cheeses, that never quite took off with customers.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Today’s astro-weather encourages us to be emotionally intelligent without being evasive.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
Definition of encourage
Noun
  • But no, instead he is forced to bro out with all the guys, worst of which is Charlie, whom Brooks understandably has zero desire to spend any time with whatsoever.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 July 2026
  • The bonus of birding For many birders, a growing appreciation for birds naturally leads to a desire to protect them.
    — Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of desire
Noun
  • Derived from a Central African shrub, the drug's ability to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings were uncovered by accident, when Howard Lotsof, a 19-year old addicted to heroin, tried ibogaine out of curiosity in 1962.
    — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • This no-bake recipe uses cornflakes, creamy peanut butter, and chocolate chips to satisfy any sweet tooth craving.
    — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of craving
Noun
  • History has shown us that the very celebration of our shared longing for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ensures that those values will endure.
    — Lonnie G. Bunch III, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026
  • But what Spiro is writing about in most of these tunes is something a little more interesting than standard loss-and-longing fare.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 3 July 2026
Definition of longing
Noun
  • While the dogs/chips/ice cream might still ring true, my thirst-quencher of choice has evolved.
    — Melissa Knific, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 July 2026
  • If your skin needs a hydration boost, reach for the brand's Hyaluronic Moisture formula with hyaluronic acid and snow mushroom to quench its thirst.
    — Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of thirst
Noun
  • How protein fits into your daily diet Protein supplies the amino acids your body uses to repair muscle, produce enzymes and keep hunger in check.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026
  • Researchers found that increasing protein intake reduces ghrelin levels, a hunger hormone.
    — Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 7 July 2026
Definition of hunger

Browse Nearby Words

urchins
urge
urged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Urge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urge. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on urge

Nglish: Translation of urge for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All