1
as in motivations
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 comforts
a feeling of ease from grief or trouble
The return of summer brought with it a new sense of inspiration.
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Recent Examples of inspirations
The script began as a story of a 16th century warlord and his three sons—Kurosawa only added elements of Lear later on, alongside other references and inspirations.
—
Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
In 2024's The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, the actor played Gus March-Phillips, who is widely known as one of the real-life inspirations for Bond.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Speaking to InStyle last month, Harrier discussed her biggest style inspirations.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
Knowing that Rocky’s voice would come from Grace’s unsophisticated computer setup, Ortiz gathered inspirations, at times subconsciously, from a variety of robotic sources.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
His friends, from brother Luigi (Charlie Day) to Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) veer in a similar direction, somehow coming across less fully formed and three-dimensional than their nearly speechless inspirations from Nintendo‘s flagship franchise.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
Looks-maxxing is an ethos of self-improvement taken to an extreme, and its more explicit inspirations are the pickup artists of early-2000s infamy and the incels of 2010s 4Chan.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
The city is looking to Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York as one of its inspirations.
—Aria Jones, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
Still, at its best, Needle Guy applies Brady’s prankish energy to unsettling inversions of his inspirations.
—Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
In 2024's The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, the actor played Gus March-Phillips, who is widely known as one of the real-life inspirations for Bond.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Speaking to InStyle last month, Harrier discussed her biggest style inspirations.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
Knowing that Rocky’s voice would come from Grace’s unsophisticated computer setup, Ortiz gathered inspirations, at times subconsciously, from a variety of robotic sources.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
His friends, from brother Luigi (Charlie Day) to Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) veer in a similar direction, somehow coming across less fully formed and three-dimensional than their nearly speechless inspirations from Nintendo‘s flagship franchise.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
Looks-maxxing is an ethos of self-improvement taken to an extreme, and its more explicit inspirations are the pickup artists of early-2000s infamy and the incels of 2010s 4Chan.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
The city is looking to Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York as one of its inspirations.
—Aria Jones, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
Still, at its best, Needle Guy applies Brady’s prankish energy to unsettling inversions of his inspirations.
—Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspirations
Noun
-
People are complex and their motivations are layered.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Protect your energy by choosing restorative comforts at home.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
So Electric Houses and Electric Breakfasts initially brought more comforts to the already comfortable, although more widespread electrification in the 1910s and later ultimately brought gadgets like toasters to nearly every household.—
Michael Kilian,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
All through the park, competitors and onlookers hit vapes and shout tips and encouragements into trees.—
Calin Van Paris,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
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In October 2024 ahead of her own stay at MSG, Billie Eilish recorded encouragements to take the subways for environmental benefits.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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From the wings came De Niro, inspiring cheers from the exhibitors.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Barring anything drastic, Fernando Mendoza will put on a silver and black cap April 23 to overwhelming cheers from his friends and family inside his Miami home.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The houses below are famously adorned with colorful reliefs that recount the history of each owner’s family.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
15 Feb. 2026
-
From the old mail chute in the lobby to the original grand marble portrait reliefs on the ornate curving staircase, attention to historical preservation adds charm in all the public—and even not-so-public—spaces, like the basement bank safe where the original Coca-Cola recipe once resided.—
Su-Jit Lin,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Toward the end of 2022 and into 2023, Perardi and Youngblood spoke constantly, looping through the same horror, the same consolations.—
Matthew Bremner,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Over three nights, hundreds of drivers in both Super Late Model and Open Wheel Modified divisions will battle through prelims on Thursday and Friday, including hot laps, heat races, consolations, and qualifiers, to earn a spot in Saturday’s high-stakes finale.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inspirations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspirations. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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