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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inspire
At her brand's event, Rare Beauty and TEZZA kicked off the launch of their collaboration, the TEZZA ‘Rare’ Filter, a limited edition warm glow filter, inspired by the new powder bronzer.
—
Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 15 Jan. 2026
That changes with Best Medicine, Fox’s new dramedy inspired by British procedural Doc Martin.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
The collection will officially launch at Merci on Saturday, accompanied by a physical installation inspired by mountains and outdoor landscapes.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026
Written and directed by Joe Carnahan, the action thriller is loosely inspired by the true story of one of Carnahan's law enforcement friends, who also helped recruit real-life police officers to appear in the film.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspire
Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 15 Jan. 2026
That changes with Best Medicine, Fox’s new dramedy inspired by British procedural Doc Martin.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
The collection will officially launch at Merci on Saturday, accompanied by a physical installation inspired by mountains and outdoor landscapes.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026
Written and directed by Joe Carnahan, the action thriller is loosely inspired by the true story of one of Carnahan's law enforcement friends, who also helped recruit real-life police officers to appear in the film.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspire
Verb
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The teeth also captured climate shifts such as the Late Antique Little Ice Age and the Medieval Climate Anomaly, which might have encouraged some increase in migration into England.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
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Those who experienced the earthquake are encouraged to report it via the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The location of oil has long elicited as much skepticism as the future of the oil industry itself.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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But learning to elicit a resilient response, instead, can transform the negative effects of stress and allow someone to evolve in a healthier way.—
Tara Narula,
Time,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Remittance transfer providers have to make some decisions about what transfers to consider taxable, how to survive internal audit, and how to educate their customers.—
Carrie Brandon Elliot,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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According to Ilko, many landscapers do not yet know about the Zone Zero requirements and his HOA has started educating them when plans are submitted for approval.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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All of these combos evoke the mid-2010s.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
12 Jan. 2026
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The operation led to the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a federal immigration agent last week and evoked outrage and protests across the country.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspire. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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