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
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
But Berner would still be white — specifically, the kind of white girl who gets in the face of a Black woman and yells at her that her mere existence inspires violence.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 10 Mar. 2025
Passion changes minds and inspires action.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
The moon’s connection to Mercury inspires trust.
—USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
American history should be told in a way that reckons with the sins and flaws of the past, but still inspires people to build on the ideals of the founding and the progress that has been made toward achieving those ideals.
—Eboo Patel, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
The music inspires its creatures, and vice versa — like the Altamaha-ha, a legendary water beast that hails from stories told around the Altamaha River in Georgia.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2025
The first quarter moon inspires a gamble that is better in theory than in practice.
—USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
Hopefully this inspires somebody else.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2025
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
But Berner would still be white — specifically, the kind of white girl who gets in the face of a Black woman and yells at her that her mere existence inspires violence.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 10 Mar. 2025
Passion changes minds and inspires action.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
The moon’s connection to Mercury inspires trust.
—USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
American history should be told in a way that reckons with the sins and flaws of the past, but still inspires people to build on the ideals of the founding and the progress that has been made toward achieving those ideals.
—Eboo Patel, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
The music inspires its creatures, and vice versa — like the Altamaha-ha, a legendary water beast that hails from stories told around the Altamaha River in Georgia.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2025
The first quarter moon inspires a gamble that is better in theory than in practice.
—USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
Hopefully this inspires somebody else.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inspires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspires. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share