1
as in to encourage
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
the rousing campaign speech inspired everyone to get out the vote
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to elicit
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved)
what inspired that comment?
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inspire
Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple.
—
Don Riddell, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
He was inspired by an early scene from the TV show, when the estate’s staff hosted a servant’s ball at Christmastime.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
The lunar eclipse in your sign pushed you to release old versions of yourself and continues to inspire a new sense of self and purpose.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Maybe people are just feeling inspired.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inspire
Don Riddell, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
He was inspired by an early scene from the TV show, when the estate’s staff hosted a servant’s ball at Christmastime.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
The lunar eclipse in your sign pushed you to release old versions of yourself and continues to inspire a new sense of self and purpose.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Maybe people are just feeling inspired.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inspire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspire
Verb
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Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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The Associated Press reported that Robinson’s father recognized his son from the images released by law enforcement, and then encouraged his son to turn himself in.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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While people have different definitions for luxury, the word typically elicits extravagance, grandeur, and exclusivity.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
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These will only elicit your threat response!—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The game serves a dual purpose by educating users about the growing prevalence of synthetic media while providing valuable data to improve BitMind’s detection algorithms.—
Becca Bratcher,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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The school district, which educates about 23,000 students, is working toward making CPR a skill that every student learns at least once a year starting in fifth grade, said Superintendent Joe Harrington.—
Ciara McCarthy
September 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At its heart is the tradition of mezze, a luxurious spread of small plates designed for sharing, evoking both intimacy and abundance.—
Shivani Vora,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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In the 1988 New Fashioned, a whiskey cocktail named for the year Vang’s family immigrated to the United States from the Thai refugee camp Ban Vinai, a stately ice cube is engraved with a geometric symbol evoking traditional Hmong embroidery.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspire. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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