1
as in encourages
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 elicits
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved)
what inspired that comment?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in educates
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 inspires
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
—
Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Her desire to grow and her consistency in all her tasks along the way inspires others to raise the bar.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Mabel befriends many of the animals that fled the glade and eventually inspires them to rise up against Jon Hamm’s Mayor Jerry, who wants to build a highway through the forest.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 9 Mar. 2026
Naples inspires poetic reflection, and Rosi’s contemplative style inspires us to think beyond the frame and the immediate subject matter.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
The aforementioned uprising, for example, occurs during a dance sequence that inspires an army of young women to imitate Ida, down to her peculiar face tattoos.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Paul’s decision about the practice inspires Gaby.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
Reading often inspires her to write short stories that imitate the voice of an author.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
Paul takes a local gal to his hotel room for a nightcap, which inspires the gal’s husband to take a chair to Paul’s head.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Her desire to grow and her consistency in all her tasks along the way inspires others to raise the bar.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Mabel befriends many of the animals that fled the glade and eventually inspires them to rise up against Jon Hamm’s Mayor Jerry, who wants to build a highway through the forest.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 9 Mar. 2026
Naples inspires poetic reflection, and Rosi’s contemplative style inspires us to think beyond the frame and the immediate subject matter.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
The aforementioned uprising, for example, occurs during a dance sequence that inspires an army of young women to imitate Ida, down to her peculiar face tattoos.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Paul’s decision about the practice inspires Gaby.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
Reading often inspires her to write short stories that imitate the voice of an author.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
Paul takes a local gal to his hotel room for a nightcap, which inspires the gal’s husband to take a chair to Paul’s head.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspires
Verb
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The law also prohibits the development of AI that encourages a person to commit suicide, harm themselves, harm another person or engage in criminal activity.—
SEUNG MIN KIM,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
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Aside from no-single-use plastics in rooms and the touches mentioned previously, 1 Hotels’ universal 1 Less Thing initiative encourages guests to leave an item of clothing behind that will be donated to a local charity.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The, um, spin on one death elicits a smile, mostly because of Weaving’s disgusted takes.—
Michael Ordoña,
San Francisco Chronicle,
18 Mar. 2026
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Viewers consume news that elicits strong feelings that people will keep coming back for.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The seat belonging to David Ko sat empty once again during the March 10 school board meeting of Niles Township High School District 219, which educates students in Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove and Niles.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His sudden ascendancy during wartime, coupled with the uncertainty about his whereabouts, evokes imagery deeply embedded in the mythology of the Islamic Republic and the Shia theology that it is anchored to.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
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Bunbury’s unmistakable voice weaves through a tapestry of blues, country, and rock, anchored by a nostalgic guitar that evokes both longing and resolve.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inspires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspires. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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