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 organization urges eligible blood and platelet donors, especially those with type-O blood, to make appointments at donation centers. — Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026 Tradeweb shares are off more than 4% in 2026, but analyst Alexander Blostein urged investors to remain calm and buy the stock despite several headwinds. — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 5 July 2026
Noun
Spontaneous and slightly chaotic, this cerebral synergy can bring surprising news or perhaps even trigger the sudden urge to break out of a stagnant situation. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 The idea remains fan speculation rather than reported fact, but her announcement history makes the urge to investigate understandable. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 2 July 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
  • Valentine also testified that the FDA encourages infant formula companies to send in all adverse event reports and that nothing prevented Mead Johnson from doing so.
    — David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Going forward, the city will encourage data center developers to submit an application for a special use district, meaning the site would specifically be used for a data center, nothing else.
    — Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
Definition of encourage
Noun
  • But experts say higher energy costs in Europe and a desire to slow global warming fuel the air conditioning-free lifestyle.
    — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • And yet Webster’s dictionary, and his earlier attempts at spelling reform, expressed a radical desire to forge an entirely new tongue based in the vernacular genius of the aspiring American people.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 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
  • The concept has already spread to more than 50 cities across 30 states and 10 countries, tapping into a growing hunger for face-to-face connection that dating apps have failed to deliver.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
  • In polling across four states, voters were nearly unanimous that ending childhood hunger should be bipartisan.
    — Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of hunger

Browse Nearby Words

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urge
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Cite this Entry

“Urge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urge. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on urge

Nglish: Translation of urge for Spanish Speakers

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