Synonyms of inspire

inspire

verb

in-ˈspī(-ə)r 

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

• encourage
• embolden
• hearten
• reinforce
• stimulate
• bear up
• buoy (up)
• inspirit
• cheer (up)
• provoke
• invigorate
• enliven
• steel
• reassure
• animate
• enforce
• strengthen
• excite
• buck up
• assure
• energize
• chirk (up)
• galvanize
• stir
• fortify
• rally
• quicken
• boost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discourage
• daunt
• dishearten
• undermine
• depress
• demoralize
• weaken
• sadden
• intimidate
• dispirit
• debilitate
• hamstring
• enfeeble
• psych (out)

2

as in to elicit

to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved)

what inspired that comment?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• elicit
• evoke
• raise
• reveal
• call forth
• get
• educe
• pull
• gain
• obtain
• extract
• extort
• expose
• drag
• procure
• discover
• uncover
• dredge (up)
• wrest
• wring
• secure
• disclose
• coax (out)
• evince
• unveil
• divulge
• wangle
• unmask
• bare
• uncloak

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forget
• ignore
• miss
• disregard
• neglect
• pass over
• overlook
• overpass

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• educate
• enrich
• enlighten
• transform
• edify
• illumine
• nurture
• illuminate
• uplift
• improve
• elevate
• ennoble
• better
• lift
• illume
• exalt
• renew
• regenerate
• transfigure
• ensoul
• glorify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confuse
• puzzle
• perplex
• obscure
• darken
• cloud
• becloud

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inspire

The experience inspired Allen to explore bringing the program to DC, eventually helping build support among the DC Council and mayor to launch it citywide. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Her philanthropic legacy includes the creation of the Imagination Library, which mails free books to children around the world and was inspired by her father, who was illiterate. — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026

This includes explaining the $566 million spent last fiscal year on immigration enforcement that inspired the Legislature in March to approve a bipartisan law mandating quarterly reports. — Liv Caputo, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

The movement helped inspire Jane Fonda to produce the 1980 movie. — Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026