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
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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.
—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026
Office storage rarely inspires much emotion, but Audo Copenhagen’s Crescent system gets close.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
Stay at the five-star Hotel de la Coupole Sapa – MGallery Collection – the French Indochine era of the 1920s and 1930s inspires its design.
—Tamara Hinson, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2026
This often inspires a sketch where past five-timers make cameos to welcome the newest addition to the club.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 26 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
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, 31 Mar. 2026
Office storage rarely inspires much emotion, but Audo Copenhagen’s Crescent system gets close.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
Stay at the five-star Hotel de la Coupole Sapa – MGallery Collection – the French Indochine era of the 1920s and 1930s inspires its design.
—Tamara Hinson, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2026
This often inspires a sketch where past five-timers make cameos to welcome the newest addition to the club.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 26 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
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
-
His inept Cabinet ignores, and actually encourages, his very weird and embarrassing meandering.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Sarah Olim, a general dentist in Katy, Texas, encourages her patients to come in for visits every six months.—
Tribune News Service,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 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
-
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.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
3 Apr. 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
-
The lodge evokes the spirit of yesteryear while offering all-inclusive dude ranch vacations that include horseback riding, water sports, and homemade meals.—
Julie Bielenberg,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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The twang of country music may be the sound that most evokes the feeling that the spring season has finally arrived.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inspires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspires. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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