What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
spurred
Example
The coach's pep talk spurred the team to victory. [spurred: verb]
Example
The economic downturn spurred the company to make changes. [spurred: past participle]
urged
Example
I urged my friend to apply for the job since she has the necessary skills. [urged: verb]
Example
The doctor urged the patient to quit smoking for the sake of their health. [urged: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Urged is more commonly used than spurred in everyday language. Urged is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while spurred is less common and tends to be used in more formal or professional settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between spurred and urged?
While spurred is typically associated with a formal or professional tone, urged is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.