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
Her collection features millions of childhood artworks across developmental milestones — from scribbles to finger paintings and pictorial works — and has served as a major source of inspiration for Belott’s own artistic practice.
—
Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 27 June 2025
Wiesel's decades of writings and advocacy continue to serve as a source of inspiration, the USPS said in its announcement.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
In a recent interview, Monét revealed the inspiration behind her book.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Murray, the goalie coach for the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League from 2016 to 2018, provided some inspiration to Ravensbergen, who was then competing in Pee Wee hockey in the Vancouver area.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inspiration
Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 27 June 2025
Wiesel's decades of writings and advocacy continue to serve as a source of inspiration, the USPS said in its announcement.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
In a recent interview, Monét revealed the inspiration behind her book.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Murray, the goalie coach for the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League from 2016 to 2018, provided some inspiration to Ravensbergen, who was then competing in Pee Wee hockey in the Vancouver area.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inspiration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspiration
Noun
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Here are a few of the motivations that incentive experts to switch teams.—
Melanie Hughes,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
Over the years, many readers have shared how Ruby inspired them to pursue their dreams and gave them the motivation to graduate.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
This is a time for emotional growth, creativity, and self-care to ensue.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
-
Where this leads, this decoupling of origin from human culture and creativity, is having adverse consequences.—
Shain Shapiro,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Enable dynamic skills mapping and personalized learning-pathway generation, especially for capability uplift.—
Peter Beven,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
-
Otherwise, the performance uplift is lower, closer to 50%.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
24 June 2025
Noun
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While some commenters noted the mistake, many offered support and encouragement.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
-
However, Bird only came out in 2017, after the encouragement of Rapinoe.—
Grace Jordan-Weinstein,
People.com,
20 June 2025
Noun
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Yes, focus still matters—but not at the expense of imagination.—
Brent Gleeson,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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What If Neanderthals Lived with Humans? Unlike humans, who are experts in optimization and always looking for ways to further perfect our efficiency, Neanderthals weren’t capable of the same imagination.—
Sara Novak,
Discover Magazine,
28 June 2025
Noun
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Recent Results and Performances Denmark qualified for the Euros with relative comfort, but their most recent Nations League campaign was more topsy-turvy.—
Neel Shelat,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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This cozy accent chair is covered in a warm and soft lambswool boucle and has a rounded back for maximum comfort.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Israel’s contention that Iran would soon be able to build a nuclear weapon was the impetus for the conflict, which began with Israel Defense Forces strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and against Iran’s military and nuclear program scientists on the night of June 12-13.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
24 June 2025
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Tyler Grill said the festival has brought nearly 100,000 people in the city, which was the impetus for starting an annual festival in Bushnell Park.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
22 June 2025
Noun
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Higher temperatures are expected on Wednesday, before rain brings relief to some areas, according to The Associated Press.—
Megan Forrester,
ABC News,
1 July 2025
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Recent studies highlight gaming as a powerful tool for stress relief, anxiety management and fostering social connections, particularly for younger generations who thrive in online environments.—
George Toh,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inspiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspiration. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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