inspiration

noun

Definition of inspirationnext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inspiration An easy way to tell them apart is that his oeuvre is mostly large and made up of animals, while hers, smaller and more detailed, takes inspiration from the plant world. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026 But as publishing demands and author hopes collide, some writers are using the pressure to perform online to embrace their digital selves — and use that as inspiration to make something new in the process. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026 Debbie is kind of that other extreme, with the dawn of MTV as a big inspiration. — Laurie Brookins, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026 Akira Vegan Bone ventures into more color and botanical inspiration, all made from the same traditional bone china material. — Angela Tafoya, Architectural Digest, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inspiration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspiration
  1. motivation
  2. creativity
  3. uplift
  4. encouragement
  5. imagination
  6. comfort
  7. impetus
  8. relief
Noun
  • The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 ranks EI skills like resilience, flexibility, agility, leadership, social influence, motivation, and self-awareness as among the top ten most desirable skills.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Whisper Man director James Ashcroft explains the motivations of the film’s serial killer antagonist.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of motivation
Noun
  • And it was viewed as a home for the kind of silly human creativity that, these days, is increasingly replaced in our feeds by AI slop.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Early exposure to entrepreneurship, whether through education or the home environment, significantly boosts entrepreneurial intention while building the critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity that leadership requires in any field.
    — Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of creativity
Noun
  • According to the study, the resulting uplift would have created steep terrain and high ground that could be intensely eroded over long periods.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The additional uplift also supports the company’s growing Heavyweight Express offering, enabling customers to move shipments larger than 50 kilograms through the DHL Express international time-definite network via air.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of uplift
Noun
  • Angela recalled him providing clothing, shoes and money to people experiencing homelessness, along with the words of encouragement that came naturally to him.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
  • As captured by a parent, a note that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library sent to its graduates includes kind words and encouragement from the star.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of encouragement
Noun
  • Anna Watson’s lighting keeps much of the house just dim enough to make the imagination dangerous, while Tony winner Gareth Fry’s sound design surrounds the audience with ominous noises whose sources aren’t always immediately clear.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Still, the archetypal influencer in our cultural imagination is not a man reviewing watches on YouTube or hosting a podcast from his studio in Austin.
    — Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of imagination
Noun
  • The city of 90,000 residents also offers a vibrant arts scene with one of the most unique opera venues in the world, not to mention the creature-comforts found in posh boutique hotels, spas and some 400 eclectic restaurants.
    — Dan Fellner, AZCentral.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Many check in specifically for the property’s preventative medicine and longevity programs, spending their days rotating between diagnostics, consultations, and treatments while still enjoying the comforts of a grand European resort.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of comfort
Noun
  • The impetus was Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, which contains gory scenes that are definitely too intense for young kids but more appropriate for teens, and thus, the PG-13 rating was born.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The maintenance needed on the 368,000 miles of roads in America’s national forests was one impetus for the Roadless Rule in 2001.
    — Patrick Parenteau, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of impetus
Noun
  • Taylor pitched a career-high 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings and was credited with the win as the Sox defeated the Twins 7-4 in front of 28,140.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Trent Harris, Carson Seymour and Ryan Walker combined for four scoreless innings of relief.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of relief

Browse Nearby Words

inspects
inspiration
inspirational
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Cite this Entry

“Inspiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspiration. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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