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
Some of his friends had urged their parents not to go to work, to wait until ICE had left Danbury. — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 Patrick also publicly forgave his then-wife and urged others to do the same. — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
There’s also a great urge to socialize this week for you, so get out there! — Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026 Our research team found that, in abstaining mice, this urge to drink is preceded by changes in the activity of a particular brain region, pointing to potential new screening opportunities to identify and help those most vulnerable to relapse. — Marie Doyle, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 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
  • Producer and 10 Lives founder and CEO Daniel Catullo set the stage for such a party by introducing the film and encouraging audience members to get out of their seats during the showing and record clips of the doc.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
  • So his church—which has raised many millions of dollars for good causes, and operates a local food pantry and food truck—decided to distribute lawn signs simply encouraging people to be kind.
    — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of encourage
Noun
  • All the climate stories in this show are part of the desire to be authentic, but also speak to what our audiences are living through.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Younger consumers' enthusiasm for fall, a desire to plan ahead and retailers' efforts to extend seasonal spending may all be helping drive the shift.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of desire
Noun
  • Chips aren’t the only way to satisfy a craving for something crunchy.
    — Jennifer Berger, Verywell Health, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But yeah, just how quickly the cravings to check my phone all the time really receded.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of craving
Noun
  • Over time, his desire to pursue his life’s work became inseparable from a larger longing for personal freedom.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
  • This paradox—a longing for beauty to be distributed equally, even though it cannot be diluted for ease of distribution, and might even require rarity—is why the period continues to fascinate me.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of longing
Noun
  • More than just thirst quenchers, functional beverages are engineered to deliver a wellness punch with vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, electrolytes, probiotics and enzymes for gut health and adaptogens for mood support.
    — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • What the estate has built in the 15 years since his death is a testament to the thirst for life that the artist had while on this earth.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of thirst
Noun
  • When hunger sets in, Franschhoek is ready to pounce with its stellar selection of farm-to-fork style restaurants.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Ínség-szikla is just one example of Central Europe’s many hunger stones.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of hunger

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Cite this Entry

“Urge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urge. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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