Synonyms of inspiring

inspiring 1 of 2

adjective

in-ˈspī-riŋ 

as in breathtaking

causing great emotional or mental stimulation

an inspiring idea for a national program in which young people would commit themselves to a year of community service

Synonyms & Similar Words

• breathtaking
• exciting
• interesting
• intriguing
• thrilling
• exhilarating
• fascinating
• electrifying
• galvanizing
• provocative
• gripping
• intoxicating
• electric
• stimulating
• mind-blowing
• rousing
• galvanic
• mind-bending
• lively
• mind-boggling
• stirring
• kicky
• exhilarative
• riveting
• absorbing
• rip-roaring
• heart-stopping
• tantalizing
• engrossing
• enchanting
• hair-raising
• enthralling
• charged
• moving
• touching
• poignant
• arresting
• energetic
• spellbinding
• dynamic
• titillating
• high-voltage
• kinetic
• lusty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• boring
• tedious
• tiresome
• unexciting
• dull
• monotonous
• uninteresting
• dreary
• mind-numbing
• humdrum

inspiring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of inspire

1

as in encouraging

to fill with courage or strength of purpose

the rousing campaign speech inspired everyone to get out the vote

Synonyms & Similar Words

• encouraging
• inspiriting
• heartening
• emboldening
• reinforcing
• stimulating
• cheering (up)
• invigorating
• bearing up
• enlivening
• provoking
• reassuring
• exciting
• buoying (up)
• steeling
• animating
• energizing
• chirking (up)
• enforcing
• bucking up
• stirring
• strengthening
• galvanizing
• assuring
• rallying
• fortifying
• quickening
• boosting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discouraging
• daunting
• disheartening
• depressing
• undermining
• demoralizing
• intimidating
• dispiriting
• weakening
• debilitating
• saddening
• enfeebling
• hamstringing
• psyching (out)

2

as in eliciting

to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved)

what inspired that comment?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• eliciting
• evoking
• revealing
• raising
• calling forth
• educing
• getting
• pulling
• gaining
• extracting
• obtaining
• dragging
• exposing
• extorting
• discovering
• dredging (up)
• uncovering
• wresting
• securing
• procuring
• coaxing (out)
• disclosing
• wringing
• unveiling
• divulging
• wangling
• evincing
• baring
• unmasking
• uncloaking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• missing
• ignoring
• forgetting
• passing over
• neglecting
• disregarding
• overlooking
• overpassing

3

as in educating

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

• educating
• enlightening
• enriching
• uplifting
• edifying
• transforming
• nurturing
• illuminating
• illumining
• improving
• ennobling
• illuming
• elevating
• lifting
• bettering
• exalting
• ensouling
• regenerating
• renewing
• transfiguring
• glorifying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confusing
• puzzling
• perplexing
• darkening
• obscuring
• clouding
• beclouding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inspiring

Adjective

Cancer June 21 – July 22 Curiosity could lead you somewhere unexpectedly inspiring today. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026

On occasion, overly exuberant executives have set up their successors for failure, by publicly pursuing audacious, sometimes inspiring, but ultimately unachievable goals as a part of their legacy. — Johannes Teyssen, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026

Verb

Then, in 2022, a friend, designer Michael Söhngen, gave Freund a sketch of a 944 shooting brake—the 944 became Porsche’s entry-level model after the 924 Turbo S was discontinued in 1988—inspiring him to build the vehicle himself. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2026

The official synopsis calls Elsinore a powerful, deeply moving, and inspiring true story of the actor Ian Charleson, who faced incredible odds while preparing to give the performance of his life in Hamlet at the National Theatre in London. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026