Thesaurus results for SPURRED

spurred

verb

Definition of spurred

past tense of spur

as in dug

to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object gently spurred the horse with his heels

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 spurred Myers was outraged, believing that his initial comment that spurred police involvement was constitutionally protected free speech. — Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2026 The harm caused by the delays spurred immigration attorneys and advocates in the state to send a letter to Chief Judge Sul Ozerden in March about the habeas bottleneck. — Carla Astudillo, ProPublica, 3 Sep. 2026 The 25th anniversary of the attacks has spurred many news organizations to offer a broader array of programming, which in most years is largely tied to commemoration. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 His words were interpreted as a kind of political and moral mission spurred by his son’s death. — Amos Harel, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2026 News of Curry’s death spurred tributes from his co-stars, including Carol Burnett, Lesley Ann Warren, Patricia Quinn and Susan Sarandon. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 The Broncos were spurred on that day by the heroics of Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty, who ended the game with 192 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2026 Then, there’s the whole end-of-the-world thing and those recurring nuclear nightmares, spurred by his feelings on the state of our government. — Charles Moss, SPIN, 1 Sep. 2026 This growth is particularly notable because the villages – often spurred by nonprofit and faith-based groups – have emerged outside conventional housing systems and are tailored to local circumstances. — Brandon Marc Finn, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurred

Verb

And yet the nugget of knowledge from his vast experience of traversing 120 yards (110 metres) via two 60-yard lengths in a trench – dug 4ft deep and 3ft wide in a Welsh field – filled with murky, mucky river water is not a tip about technique.

— Rob Tanner, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Days before a Times reporter visited Matson’s property, a pack of wild dogs dug under his fence and fatally mauled his only surviving adult ostrich, Bam Bam.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of dug

Verb

Two people were stabbed, one fatally, near Times Square on Monday afternoon, with responding authorities shooting and killing the female suspect, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026
One of the two people who was stabbed also died, while the other victim was hospitalized in stable condition.

— Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of stabbed

Verb

Better together Industry analysts, experts and insiders have consistently poked holes in the states' argument that the combination of TV networks would create antitrust issues.

— Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
So too were the buildings, including my hotel, which poked through the seven-foot-high snowbanks, looking like an ancient shipwreck covered in shifting sand.

— Adam H. Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of poked

Verb

The first arrest came in May 2025, after Rodriguez allegedly punched his father in the face when asked to turn off his loud music, according to court records.

— Harry Harris, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026
Police say Moore stole cash from a woman, then punched her and a second woman when he was confronted.

— Jessica Riley, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of punched

Verb

Or Pablo Picasso, goaded into radicalism by the latest bizarre creations of Matisse, retreating to the Spanish mountain village of Gósol and, mere months later, beginning work on his proto-cubist masterpiece, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.

— Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
The architect of the program’s revitalization will not be goaded into predictions or promises.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of goaded

Verb

This nudged Bentley toward using sound made by living beings, rather than something synthesized.

— Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026
American buyers have spent years being nudged toward ever-larger crossovers and SUVs, while small hatchbacks have gradually disappeared from the mainstream.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of nudged

Verb

Petersen said Unite Here had the largest ground operation of any union in the state during primaries in June and knocked on more than 300,000 doors.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Valero estimated earlier this month that wars in Iran and Ukraine had knocked about 5 million barrels per day of capacity offline.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026