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?
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inspire
The Italian ski boot design is inspired by high-tech astronaut gear, and is constructed of insulated nylon fabric, with a padded rubber sole that provides traction in every environment.
—
Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
By the early 1980s, Adrian Belew was in demand as a touring guitarist, the kind of work that keeps you perpetually employed and inspired but also in transit.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 11 Jan. 2026
Liv Hospital Ulus was inspired by how the human body heals itself.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
And where once America built the best, most awe-inspiring buildings in the entire world, now they are instead increasingly found in places like Dubai and China.
—Lee Steinhauer, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspire
Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
By the early 1980s, Adrian Belew was in demand as a touring guitarist, the kind of work that keeps you perpetually employed and inspired but also in transit.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 11 Jan. 2026
Liv Hospital Ulus was inspired by how the human body heals itself.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
And where once America built the best, most awe-inspiring buildings in the entire world, now they are instead increasingly found in places like Dubai and China.
—Lee Steinhauer, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 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 viral post, first published Friday, has elicited strong denials from major delivery apps that have been the subjects of past scrutiny for exploitive worker policies.—
Lauren Wilson,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 2026
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That statement elicited a shocked, jaw-dropping reaction from Nojus.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Last session, lawmakers nearly passed a $3 million bill to help school districts educate students who need additional services, like a full-time nurse or an ASL interpreter, that can cost more than $50,000.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
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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,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The trend captures a kind of affordable opulence, a desire to evoke the elegance of wealth without its cost.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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Rather, Metropolitan evokes the youthful experience of being home, avoiding family, and clinging to friends during the holiday break, when responsibility remains over the horizon and your whole life is still ahead of you.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspire. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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