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
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.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2026
Doreen Brown credits her dad, Jay Brown, as the one who serves as her inspiration to work the election polls each year.
—Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Students like Xinyu Guo welcome the inspiration.
—Donald Fountain, CBS News, 4 May 2026
That has been true as stars have looked to the canon of art history for inspiration.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspiration
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2026
Doreen Brown credits her dad, Jay Brown, as the one who serves as her inspiration to work the election polls each year.
—Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Students like Xinyu Guo welcome the inspiration.
—Donald Fountain, CBS News, 4 May 2026
That has been true as stars have looked to the canon of art history for inspiration.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspiration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspiration
Noun
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But much of the talk centered on health and motivation.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
-
Others contain hidden structures of motivation.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The Pisces Moon adds creativity and intuition, helping bigger ideas feel both inspiring and workable.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
-
The Moon in Aquarius moves through your 5th House and trines Venus in Gemini, making creativity and playful experimentation especially productive.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Pichai carries strong values into his work—economic uplift, compassion for migrants—and says his quest is to build useful things for as many people as possible.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
6 May 2026
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Landslides are common in the coastal mountains of Alaska where rapid uplift, caused by tectonic forces and long-term ice loss, converges with the erosive forces of precipitation and moving glaciers.—
Ezgi Karasözen,
The Conversation,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
How To Get Blanket Flower To Bloom Blanket flowers are prolific bloomers and typically require very little encouragement to set flowers.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
4 May 2026
-
Teachers are meant to be people that students can trust and seek out for mentorship, guidance, and encouragement.—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The Pisces Moon adds imagination to strategy and helps good ideas connect.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
-
This combination from chef Gino Angelini is unlikely to have occurred in even your wildest imagination.—
Carolynn Carreño,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
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Later, the Moon squares the Sun, exposing tension between social momentum and personal comfort.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
The antisemite also revels in the release of constraints imposed by living peacefully in society with others and finds comfort in joining crowds of people like them.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The lawyers do have a valid point that the state Department of Financial Services can do a better job of regulating auto insurance rates, which everyone agrees are too high and is the main impetus for Hochul’s reforms.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
-
Villa could not find any impetus in the second half.—
Tottenham Hotspur,
New York Times,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Doe is seeking damages exceeding $75,000, along with other punitive damages and other relief to be determined at trial.—
Lexi Nicklaus,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Apr. 2026
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When aid workers reached out to South Sudanese authorities with a request to deliver emergency relief, however, it was denied.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inspiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspiration. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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