1
as in motivation
something that arouses action or activity
She traveled cross-country seeking inspiration for her next book. He credits his mother as his inspiration for becoming a social worker.
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2
as in creativity
the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others
They were a group of young artists filled with inspiration.
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3
as in uplift
a feeling of ease from grief or trouble
The return of summer brought with it a new sense of inspiration.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inspiration
Business leaders look everywhere for inspiration, from eyeing their peers’ successes to tapping industry vets for insight.
—
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
Instead, distractions become a point of inspiration, an almost necessary salve to make it through each day.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2026
She was then named Rollie Pollie, the inspiration for the rescue’s name.
—Julian Camejo, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Marin has called that moment a big inspiration.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspiration
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
Instead, distractions become a point of inspiration, an almost necessary salve to make it through each day.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2026
She was then named Rollie Pollie, the inspiration for the rescue’s name.
—Julian Camejo, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Marin has called that moment a big inspiration.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspiration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspiration
Noun
-
Most characters aren’t changing, nor are their motivations to change clear to them or novel to us.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
-
From animal welfare to renewable energy and garment worker wages, the need for change is often well documented, and the tools are there, but the motivation is lacking.—
Bella Webb,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pop-ups are another major pipeline connecting and feeding our creativity.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The intuitive Moon is waltzing through your sign, partnering with innovative Uranus in your creativity zone along the way.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Opened in 2018, the stand-alone Starbucks on Cicero Avenue provided a great canvas for the refresh, said Stephenie Rychlik, a design director for Starbucks whose team is overseeing the uplift at all 200 Chicago-area stores.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The East London space generated seven-figure revenues in 2025 alone, helping drive what has become Peachy Den’s strongest year to date, with a 35% year-on-year uplift.—
Amy Francombe,
Vogue,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
February 19 – March 20 Soft encouragement wraps around your rough edges.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Dozens of friends and supporters held a march for peace near the Coral Springs Museum of Art, gathering with words of encouragement and calls to condemn the violence.—
Steve Maugeri,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Each consists of no more than two visible walls — showing bare, wooden interiors — with the rest left to our imagination.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The show teaches kids important lessons about friendship, imagination, family, and the joy of being yourself.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Wire-free and closure-free construction for comfort with wide smoothing back and sides.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The technology improves comfort and movement while maintaining a more vintage, authentic denim aesthetic, rather than the overly synthetic look that can occur with traditional stretch constructions.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, with a noted socialist streak, has proposed a tax increase on New Yorkers making more than $1 million, which critics have cited as the impetus for New York’s wealthiest fleeing the state, and taking their money (and tax revenue) with them.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The impetus was the death of [Fela Kuti drummer] Tony Allen at the very beginning of COVID.—
Jonathan Cohen,
SPIN,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Say goodbye to back pain and sore muscles with the Chirp Wheel XR 3-Pack, your at-home toolkit for extreme relief.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Amjadi says the two-week pause offers temporary relief, but uncertainty remains with a long road to recovery.—
Ubah Ali
April 7,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inspiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspiration. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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