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
The Oasi Zegna is a territory spanning more than 62 miles and its colors and mood are also a source of inspiration for artistic director Alessandro Sartori, who has been developing the sustainable Oasi Cashmere and staged some shows there.
—
Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
By Daniel Varghese September 15, 2025 More Stories As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel.
—Hannah Chubb, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
He’s played with such jazz stalwarts as Roy Haynes, Lee Morgan, Dizzy Gillespie — who reportedly hired the pianist without an audition — and Yusef Lateef, whom Barron credits as a key inspiration, especially with regards to his famed improvisational skills.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The two will continue to evolve their menus together, focusing on seasonality and new inspirations.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspiration
Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
By Daniel Varghese September 15, 2025 More Stories As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel.
—Hannah Chubb, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
He’s played with such jazz stalwarts as Roy Haynes, Lee Morgan, Dizzy Gillespie — who reportedly hired the pianist without an audition — and Yusef Lateef, whom Barron credits as a key inspiration, especially with regards to his famed improvisational skills.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The two will continue to evolve their menus together, focusing on seasonality and new inspirations.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspiration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspiration
Noun
-
The best coaches get the most out of you in many ways, sometimes motivation and accountability being the biggest.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
12 Jan. 2026
-
But his account of the motivation for the attack shifted.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This innovative approach not only speeds the design process but also frees up designers to focus on more creative tasks, demonstrating how AI can be used as a tool to augment human creativity rather than replace it.—
Li Jun,
Footwear News,
11 Jan. 2026
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As a member of the Fine Art League of Cupertino, Choudhury volunteers his time and creativity to help people connect and grow through art.—
Diana Argabrite,
Mercury News,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Some uplift feels out of place when each day brings more disorienting tumult to our nation.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
10 Jan. 2026
-
One celebrates the beauty and moral uplift of the Sabbath; the other denounces the immorality of the godless in the fiery manner of a tent-revival preacher.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Her brother shaved his head alongside her, while friends organized care packages, drove her to sessions and offered constant encouragement.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The chatbot repeatedly offered Nelson doting messages and constant encouragement, Turner-Scott claimed.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For their part, many voters always seem to be searching for some idealized candidate who exists only in their imagination.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
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The Visionary Award recognizes an individual who has uniquely and consistently employed the art and science of VFX to foster imagination and ignite future discoveries by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Now the number one new release of Amazon’s travel pillows, it’s crafted from high-density memory foam that provides 360-degree comfort.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
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Flooring company Anderson Tuftex is seeing a resurgence in plush carpeting for bedrooms, stairs, hallways, and living rooms, where plush carpets add texture and warmth while increasing acoustic comfort by reducing sound.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Similar moves in other antitrust actions, including the recent settlements in American college sports, have proven pivotal, with an initial settlement with one party providing the impetus for other parties to settle as well.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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Their impetus was to subvert the expectations of stories involving characters from their community.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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In a letter, interim superintendent Justin Hunt blamed, in part, the influx of COVID-19 relief funds for giving the school a false sense of security.—
Jennifer Palmer,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Jan. 2026
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Bank of America analyst Rafe Jadrosich said lower mortgage rates would bring some relief to house buyers grappling with high rates.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inspiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspiration. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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