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
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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
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
—
Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Keep scrolling to shop more floral pants inspired by Jennifer Lawrence now.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Doncic stood in the corner of the court and roared at the Toyota Center crowd, responding to a heckling fan who inspired an impassioned effort from the Lakers star in a 40-point effort.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
One source speculated that the portraits of the Bezoses may have been inspired by Condé journalists openly dreading the prospect of the billionaires owning Vogue and having Sánchez calling the shots.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspire
Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Keep scrolling to shop more floral pants inspired by Jennifer Lawrence now.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Doncic stood in the corner of the court and roared at the Toyota Center crowd, responding to a heckling fan who inspired an impassioned effort from the Lakers star in a 40-point effort.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
One source speculated that the portraits of the Bezoses may have been inspired by Condé journalists openly dreading the prospect of the billionaires owning Vogue and having Sánchez calling the shots.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspire
Verb
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Meanwhile, today Uranus enters a part of your chart to stay for six years, encouraging impulsive vacations, surprising romance and unexpected children.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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The authors stress the need for a robust public domain for information and for IP to be fairly applied alongside the public domain in order to encourage economic growth and innovation.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But, as pointed out on Epicurious, the go-to website for foodies, the word elicits substantial reader backlash even when employed to describe chicken and cakes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
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One of Kentucky’s best new-school distilleries, Bardstown Bourbon Company, has had a pretty rough year, but one of the main reasons has not elicited much sympathy.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
21 Apr. 2026
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The researchers also found that being young, female, and well educated increased the odds that someone would be moist averse, as did being disgusted more generally by bodily functions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The hoods might just as well evoke the garb of Christian monks debating whether the soul is distinct from the body.—
Dawn Chan,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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The fine and tedious brush strokes evoke the practice of weaving, working in small lines to build a greater whole.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspire. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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