Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

inspire

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of inspire

1 to fill with courage or strength of purpose
  • the rousing campaign speech inspired everyone to get out the vote
Synonyms of inspire

bear up, buck up, buoy (up), cheer (up), chirk (up), embolden, encourage, hearten, inspirit, steel
Words Related to inspire

animate, enliven, invigorate

enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen

assure, reassure

boost, energize, excite, galvanize, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stir
Near Antonyms of inspire

demoralize, depress, sadden

debilitate, enfeeble, hamstring, undermine, weaken

intimidate, psych (out)
Antonyms of inspire

daunt, discourage, dishearten, dispirit
2 to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved)
  • what inspired that comment?
Synonyms of inspire

educe, elicit, evoke, raise
Words Related to inspire

drag, dredge (up), extort, extract, pull, wangle, wrest, wring

coax (out), gain, get, obtain, procure, secure

bare, disclose, discover, divulge, evince, expose, reveal, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil
Phrases Synonymous with inspire

call forth
Near Antonyms of inspire

disregard, forget, ignore, miss, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over
3 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 of inspire

edify, educate, enlighten, illume, illuminate, illumine, nurture
Words Related to inspire

elevate, ennoble, enrich, ensoul, lift, uplift

better, improve, regenerate, renew, transform

exalt, glorify, transfigure
Near Antonyms of inspire

confuse, perplex, puzzle

becloud, cloud, darken, obscure

Learn More about inspire

  1. See words that rhyme with inspire Dictionary: Definition of inspire Medical Dictionary: Definition of inspire Spanish Central: Translation of inspire Nglish: Translation of inspire for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of inspire for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up inspire? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

bower

Listen to the pronounciation of bower

a shady place in a garden or forest

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. exonerate Barr summarizes Mueller report

  2. catamount Vermont enters the Round of 64

  3. mendacious, mendacity George Conway calls Trump a liar

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games