inspire

1 to fill with courage or strength of purpose the rousing campaign speech inspired everyone to get out the vote Synonyms bear up, buck up, buoy (up), cheer (up), chirk (up), embolden, hearten, encourage, inspirit, steelRelated Words animate, enliven, invigorate; enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; assure, reassure; boost, energize, excite, galvanize, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stirNear Antonyms demoralize, depress, sadden; debilitate, enfeeble, hamstring, undermine, weaken; intimidate, psych (out)Antonyms daunt, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

2 to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved) what inspired that comment? Synonyms elicit, evoke, educe, raiseRelated Words 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, unveilNear Antonyms 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 edify, educate, illume, illuminate, illumine, enlighten, nurtureRelated Words elevate, ennoble, enrich, ensoul, lift, uplift; better, improve, regenerate, renew, transform; exalt, glorify, transfigureNear Antonyms confuse, perplex, puzzle; becloud, cloud, darken, obscure