1
as in to encourage
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
the rousing campaign speech inspired everyone to get out the vote
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to elicit
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved)
what inspired that comment?
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
great works of visual art can inspire us in ways that the written word often cannot
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inspire
The project is inspired by the life of George Müller, who was guided by his faith in caring for more than 10,000 orphans before his death in 1898.
—
Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
The ancient Hindu epic has inspired screen adaptations across multiple generations and formats.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
Fire departments, inspired by the war, were already reorganizing under a new paramilitary structure to more quickly and aggressively respond to blazes although most were still primarily volunteer-based.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Feeling inspired to capture your own photos of Earth's natural satellite?
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspire
Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
The ancient Hindu epic has inspired screen adaptations across multiple generations and formats.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
Fire departments, inspired by the war, were already reorganizing under a new paramilitary structure to more quickly and aggressively respond to blazes although most were still primarily volunteer-based.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Feeling inspired to capture your own photos of Earth's natural satellite?
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspire
Verb
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And there were a number of terrorist organizations that sought to encourage the British to leave, thus creating a united Ireland.—
Colm Tóibín,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Teammates encouraged her and one even lifted her chin, but the damage was done.—
David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Clinton did not elicit the same enthusiasm, nor the same level of support, that powered Obama to victory twice.—
David M. Drucker,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
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The portable help pendant elicited an immediate response from every room in my single-story three-bedroom ranch and worked perfectly at distances of 100 too 400 feet while outside of my home.—
John R. Delaney,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Signs educate guests on the process of how the agave is fermented with yeast in large tanks and wooden vats.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The lodge evokes the spirit of yesteryear while offering all-inclusive dude ranch vacations that include horseback riding, water sports, and homemade meals.—
Julie Bielenberg,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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After reaching orbit, Orion deployed its four solar arrays–angled away from the spacecraft in a way that evokes an X-Wing from Star Wars–while flight controllers worked through a brief communications glitch.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspire. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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