More money for education will spur economic growth.
Source: tatoeba (19132)
Spur
/spɜː/
Synonyms for "spur" (389 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (78)
Noun(15 words)
goadprodacanthaaccelerateaccelerating forceaculeabestirringbranch linebrief promptcatapult energycomposition writing promptdrivedrivingencourageencouraging
abetaccelerateactivationactuationaculeateacuminateambitionanimateappendagearmarouseartawakenbarbbarbelbarbulebillboughbranchbrashly
Show 27 more words
Verb(14 words)
Adjective(2 words)
animatedcurrent technology prompts
Strong matches (117)
Verb(20 words)
Noun(26 words)
exaltexcitantexciteexhortexpeditefangfavorfileflogfomentforelandforwardgadgadflygaffgoadgoad ongrindgrouphand
Show 48 more words
harrowhastehastenhasten onhastilyheadheadlandherdhiehie onhilltophonehookhound onhurryhurry alonghurry onhurry uphustlehustle upimpimpelimpetuouslyimpetusimpromptuimpulseimpulsivelyincautiouslyincentiveincitationinciteincitementinduceinducementinspirationinstigateinstigationinstrumentjagjointkindleknolllashleglimblinklobelobule
Adjective(3 words)
Related words (194)
lofty peakmembermotionmotivatemotivationmotivemountaintopmovemovementmullnazeneedlenessnudgeoffshootoilstoneon the spotorganoxgoadpeak
Show 112 more words
pectenpeninsulapicpicopikepinionpinnaclepointpokeprecipiceprecipitatepremiumpresspressureprickprickleprocessprodprojectionprominencepromontorypromptpromptingprongpropelpropellantprovocationprovocativeprovokepunch cattlepushpush onpush throughquickenquillrailroadrailroad throughrakerallyramificationrashlyratchetrecklesslyreefresetride herd onroot onround uprouserowelrunnerrushrush alongsandspitsawtoothschoolscionsetsharpenshepherdsicsignalsnagsnagglespeedspeed alongspeed onspeed upspiculatespikespinespirespitspraysprigsprocketspur onstampedesteeplestimulantstimulatestimulationstimulusstingstirstrapstropsuddenlysummitswitchtailtapertendrilthoughtlesslytinetonguetoothtortwigunexpectedlyunpremeditatedlyunthinkinglyurgeurge onurgingwhetwhipwhip alongwhip onwhiplashwingwrangle
Noun(43 words)
motivatemotivate learnersmotivate teammotivatingmountainmushnervesoffshootoutcropoverdrivepanhandlesprecipitatesproddingprodsprojectionpromotepromptpropellingprotrusionsrough push
Verb(15 words)
motivatedmotivatespeppedprecipitatedproddedpropel developmentpropel progresspropelledpsychedrousesroweledsparkedstimulatedstimulatesstoke
Adjective(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: goad, prod, abet, acantha, accelerate.
- Sentence evidence is available for spur, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "spur".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "spur"
Keep "spur" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "spur" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "spur", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "spur" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
25 entriesShowing 16 of 25 words.
More specific
13 entriesCollocations
12 entriesboot spurgeographic spurhorse spurrail spurspur demandspur developmentspur growthspur innovationspur linespur of the momentspur onspur productivity
Inflections
3 entriesSample sentences
26 total sentences available.
That's just a shot in the dark. How do you think you'll succeed by just acting on the spur of the moment like that?
Source: tatoeba (28389)
He says things on the spur of the moment.
Source: tatoeba (46207)
We eloped on the spur of the moment. It was so romantic!
Source: tatoeba (678196)
Showing 4 of 26 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "spur"?
Closest matches include goad, prod, abet, acantha, accelerate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "spur"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.