1
as in motivation
something that arouses action or activity
She traveled cross-country seeking inspiration for her next book. He credits his mother as his inspiration for becoming a social worker.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in creativity
the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others
They were a group of young artists filled with inspiration.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
3
as in uplift
a feeling of ease from grief or trouble
The return of summer brought with it a new sense of inspiration.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 inspiration
Then the women used Kate's celebrity crush — Will Ferrell — as inspiration to dress up as his most iconic characters.
—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
5 July 2026
As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 July 2026
For inspiration on how to style (and elevate) everyday looks with jeans, look no further than Dua Lipa.
—
María Diez,
Glamour,
5 July 2026
The school, registered with Guinea's educational authorities but not receiving government funding, is the brainchild of Mariam Aisha Barry, a social worker and philanthropist who said her daughter with autism was her inspiration.
—
ABC News,
4 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspiration
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
5 July 2026
As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 July 2026
For inspiration on how to style (and elevate) everyday looks with jeans, look no further than Dua Lipa.
—
María Diez,
Glamour,
5 July 2026
The school, registered with Guinea's educational authorities but not receiving government funding, is the brainchild of Mariam Aisha Barry, a social worker and philanthropist who said her daughter with autism was her inspiration.
—
ABC News,
4 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspiration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspiration
Noun
-
Teams Like Norway Are Trying Re-Create Home Conditions Of course, good nutrition isn’t the only motivation behind what Norway and other teams may be doing.
-
For years, Governor Ron DeSantis has fought the College Board, the group that administers the AP test, over how its standardized tests portray many things, including race and gender but also the motivations of the Founding Fathers.
Noun
-
Aguirre removed Quiñones in favor or taller options, but Mexico never recovered from the loss of offensive creativity.
-
This is a special week to focus upon your heart’s desires, creativity, and romantic world.
Noun
-
The biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War.
-
Research finds that campaigns that allocate 25% of total media spend to audio deliver the strongest uplift, with an overall campaign return on investment that is 9% higher than campaigns without audio in the mix.
Noun
-
Once all but deserted, the town experienced a revival in 1965, when artists and musicians began to flock there after encouragement from the Yugoslav government.
-
Alexandria government roasted for absurd anti-fireworks tweet The government of Alexandria tweeted Wednesday a blunt warning about fireworks — and encouragement to snitch on your neighbors.
Noun
-
The beautiful Grace Kelly captured the world's attention and imagination (and still does) for decades, but no one was more enamored by the actress than Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
-
No one was worried about screentime, and teachers didn't have to battle phones and short attention spans to capture their students' imaginations.
Noun
-
The first one features a six-foot tall bronze cast angel whose wings enfold around a granite bench; the sculpture was intended to offer the comfort of an angel’s embrace for visitors who take a seat there.
-
Honest depth heals best when paired with patience and respect for everyone’s comfort level.
Noun
-
Whether the impetus is to satisfy a desire for seclusion or to achieve the investment benefits that development allows, these three properties, triangulated across the globe, open up new frontiers and ways of living.
-
Not much separated these two teams over 90 minutes, with limited attacking impetus and much of the game being played in midfield.
Noun
-
Aroldis Chapman set the major league record for relief strikeouts after rookie Jake Bennett yielded five hits while pitching into the eighth inning for the Boston Red Sox in a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
-
Rodríguez said emergency economic measures will include relief funds for victims and temporary waivers on documentation and property registration fees to facilitate housing relocation.
Cite this Entry
“Inspiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspiration. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
