1
as in to encourage
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
the rousing campaign speech inspired everyone to get out the vote
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to elicit
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved)
what inspired that comment?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
great works of visual art can inspire us in ways that the written word often cannot
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inspire
Be inspired by creative builds at Atlanta Brick Con on Saturday and Sunday at the Gas South Convention Center.
—
Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 5 Feb. 2026
His life’s tapestry reflected a unique business, American and Jewish journey that fascinated and inspired me.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 5 Feb. 2026
Established in September, the café’s cool vibe was inspired by Bennett’s love of jazz.
—Pamela Brown, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
At La Palma, a six-bedroom villa on the white sands of L’Ansecoy Bay, interiors are Chinoiserie-inspired, with plentiful use of bamboo and rattan.
—Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspire
Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 5 Feb. 2026
His life’s tapestry reflected a unique business, American and Jewish journey that fascinated and inspired me.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 5 Feb. 2026
Established in September, the café’s cool vibe was inspired by Bennett’s love of jazz.
—Pamela Brown, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
At La Palma, a six-bedroom villa on the white sands of L’Ansecoy Bay, interiors are Chinoiserie-inspired, with plentiful use of bamboo and rattan.
—Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspire
Verb
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Your 7th House of Partnership steadies as boundary-setting Saturn arrives, encouraging clear agreements across your closest bonds so your diplomatic style can bring fairness without overgiving.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The evening was more about the vibe; Gelman encourages all guests to dress up in fancy cocktail attire.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Petal Kaddu is serious about eliciting high fives from passing fans—and isn't deterred by the steady rain over Wembley Way, between Wembley Park station and the UK's iconic national stadium.—
Toby Skinner,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Feb. 2026
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The defense also will not be allowed to elicit testimony about a fight at a club involving Pata, several of his UM teammates and gang members months before the murder, the judge ruled.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
10 Feb. 2026
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Years of disinvestment, inconsistent arts funding and bureaucratic contracting delays have hollowed out the robust infrastructure that allows these artists to educate fellow New Yorkers.—
Kimberly Olsen,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The store is redolent with the aroma of warm chocolate and an ambience evoking the agricultural roots of cacao with plants and growing tunnels.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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So, chocolate, orgasms, limerence, and heroin may all depend on the same little bundles of cells to evoke their fundamental sensation of pleasure.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspire. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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