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

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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
The younger Soros backed Kamala Harris in 2024 and urged Democrats to unite behind her. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 Volcanoes National Park urged visitors to keep their distance from the unstable cliff edges to avoid putting themselves, or first responders, in danger. — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
The urge to predictively steer the forces of chaos was evenly shared between practitioners of the sciences and the arts, neighbors within the space of the casino. — Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026 Shares of the cybersecurity vendor fell both times, despite CEO George Kurtz’s defense of the company’s accounting, and our urge to focus on the fundamentals and block out the noise. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 28 Sep. 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
  • Unlike many spas that focus on the healing effects of treatments, Kamalaya goes much deeper, encouraging guests to explore more emotional issues in a safe space.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Still, Terry Strada, whose husband, Tom Strada, was killed in the attacks, said she was encouraged that more than 100 family members of 9/11 victims turned out and by the judges’ questions.
    — Tom Winter, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of encourage
Noun
  • Alfonso recalled their discussions about how setting and movement could express the desire to survive.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The desire for these transformative products was never innate, and LACMA’s exhibition zeroes in on that idea from the start.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of desire
Noun
  • Keep one in your freezer for whenever your pumpkin pie craving strikes.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Jennifer King is getting brain surgery at Allegheny General Hospital to hopefully control her opioid addiction cravings.
    — Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of craving
Noun
  • The Incredible Hulk, the Thing, He-Man, Superman—these cartoon heroes must fulfill some kind of longing.
    — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Despite the claims of any number of charlatans who prey on the American brand of cuddly benighted ignorance, the universe will not manifest an alternate reality for anyone who simply wishes for it with sufficient longing.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of longing
Noun
  • The trend not only reflects the reach of the broader wellness and longevity movement, but also a thirst for communal experience and social connection, particularly in the wake of the pandemic.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Naturally, many of those discussions gravitated toward data centers and AI’s thirst for electrons.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of thirst
Noun
  • Creating brand hunger while ensuring brands remain the pinnacle of creative prestige is no small feat.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Human traffickers are turning children’s hunger, desperation and need for affection into tools of exploitation, a Colorado city police sergeant warned after his dedicated unit’s first year brought dozens of survivors to safety.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of hunger

Browse Nearby Words

urchins
urge
urged
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Cite this Entry

“Urge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urge. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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