inspired 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of inspirednext
as in talented

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inspired

2 of 2

verb

past tense of inspire
1
as in encouraged
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 elicited
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved) what inspired that comment?

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3
as in educated
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inspired
Adjective
Maresca’s players followed soon after; Iliman Ndiaye, an inspired half-time substitute, was hanging around at the back of the group when Ruben Dias grabbed him and thrust him to the front, ensuring the new signing got a deserved ovation. — Sam Lee, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Chairs are covered in Art Deco–inspired fabric (an homage to Lucas and Hobson’s own library). — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
What inspired you to really hunker down and take things into overdrive? — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 Oct. 2026 For Creative Exploration Google’s 20% Time Rule was inspired by 3M’s 15% Culture. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inspired
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspired
  1. talented
  2. encouraged
  3. elicited
  4. educated
  5. gifted
  6. evoked
  7. creative
  8. innovative
Adjective
  • Whoever starts this weekend when the Gators’ host Oklahoma will need everyone around him to play better while facing a talented and experienced Sooners defense.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The Horned Frogs will have one of the Big 12’s top lead guards in Harding, an All-Big 12 forward with Edmonds and a talented group on the perimeter led by Robinson, Toolson and Sykes.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of talented
Verb
  • Despite their harmless appearance, these exercises encouraged behaviors associated with manipulation and resistance to oversight.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • The report detailed the ways in which the app’s user design and promotions encouraged more betting — even after the reporter opted into responsible gaming tools designed to slow users down.
    — Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of encouraged
Verb
  • The markets also overrated Netanyahu’s challenger in Israel, where the race is still too close to call — and where a series of suspicious bets elicited an investigation by Polymarket.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The testimony was elicited by defense lawyers looking to bolster their argument that the prosecution was politically motivated.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of elicited
Verb
  • As a result, health care and child care providers alike need to be re-educated on measles.
    — Katie Lockwood, STAT, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Born and raised in Latin America, Jose was educated as an accountant and worked for investment banks before founding a wildly successful private equity firm.
    — Christina Wing, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of educated
Adjective
  • Hugh Jackman, Jonathan Frakes and others remembered Stewart as a gifted performer, generous colleague and friend whose six-decade career touched audiences around the world.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Irma, a gifted scholarship student, has secretly joined forces with two other, more outgoing college seniors, Pammy Chang and the dangerously alluring Dahlia Breughel.
    — Malcolm Forbes, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of gifted
Verb
  • The name of the magazine was the brainchild of Eunice, who was inspired by the strong, solid, African wood that evoked the heritage of the magazine’s audience.
    — Aaron Wright, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Dark memories The announcement of support for Saudi Arabia has evoked dark memories of Egypt’s involvement in the civil war in Yemen in the 1960s, pitting royalist supporters of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen against the Yemen Arab Republic.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of evoked
Adjective
  • The prompts presented the assistant as a character in creative-writing exercises.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Industry support When Corral’s exit from Movistar Plus was announced last year, there was an outpouring of anger, grief and concern from Spain’s creative community that is rarely afforded to a commissioning executive.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of creative
Adjective
  • The framework enables full-time employees to spend one day a week exploring unconventional, innovative ideas.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Musk has many critics, but Marian Tupy, a senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute, says non-conformists like Musk often lead innovative companies that help drive economic growth.
    — Frank Langfitt, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of innovative

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Cite this Entry

“Inspired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspired. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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