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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 inspires
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2026
If such talk inspires you, there will be plenty of it.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
January 20 – February 18 Messages quicken as curiosity inspires action.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 19 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
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
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2026
If such talk inspires you, there will be plenty of it.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
January 20 – February 18 Messages quicken as curiosity inspires action.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 19 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
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
-
Haller encourages anyone with an early or strong family history of colon cancer to talk to their doctor and get screened even earlier.—
Emily McLeod,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
As Adam reenters the dating world, his sister encourages him to view it as a fresh start, and scenic designer Milo Bue visually evokes the idea of a blank slate by employing off-whites and greys for Adam’s studio apartment in New York City.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The, um, spin on one death elicits a smile, mostly because of Weaving’s disgusted takes.—
Michael Ordoña,
San Francisco Chronicle,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Viewers consume news that elicits strong feelings that people will keep coming back for.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Paul M. Sutter,
Scientific American,
27 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
-
So the smell of fresh fruit evokes memories of my mom picking lemons and grapefruit and bringing them into the kitchen.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Your most recent collection evokes a lot of that ‘90s grunge.—
Anna Tingley,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inspires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspires. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
