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.
—
Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2025
With guidance and resources from the American Heart Association, each nominee builds a personalized campaign, recruits an Impact Team and inspires others to join the mission.
—Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Cooper inspires Nell to challenge her insecurities and find happiness in being on her own.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2025
Nightcall highlights how darkness inspires the imagination.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 16 Sep. 2025
That insight has guided the team at Typhur, headquartered in San Jose at the heart of Silicon Valley, a location that inspires them to engineer precision with intuitive design.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Matilda Tongying Liang dedicated her collection to her mother, who inspires her, said Liang.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
The still-unfinished Sagrada Família inspires awe with its Gothic-meets-modernist majesty—and enduring century-long construction timeline.
—AFAR Media, 3 Sep. 2025
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
Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2025
With guidance and resources from the American Heart Association, each nominee builds a personalized campaign, recruits an Impact Team and inspires others to join the mission.
—Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Cooper inspires Nell to challenge her insecurities and find happiness in being on her own.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2025
Nightcall highlights how darkness inspires the imagination.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 16 Sep. 2025
That insight has guided the team at Typhur, headquartered in San Jose at the heart of Silicon Valley, a location that inspires them to engineer precision with intuitive design.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Matilda Tongying Liang dedicated her collection to her mother, who inspires her, said Liang.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
The still-unfinished Sagrada Família inspires awe with its Gothic-meets-modernist majesty—and enduring century-long construction timeline.
—AFAR Media, 3 Sep. 2025
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
-
This song encourages them to get messy, play, and have fun with this staple activity of the Halloween season.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The backdrop this year is a festive workshop and the set encourages building and creative play.—
Alexander Cox,
Space.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For some partners, this elicits fear and uncertainty, triggering defensive responses aimed at restoring the familiar equilibrium.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Every bite elicits wonder, provoking a quiet moment of gratitude for this lush, miraculous habitat.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jack Tamisiea,
Scientific American,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The school district, which educates about 23,000 students, is working toward making CPR a skill that every student learns at least once a year starting in fifth grade, said Superintendent Joe Harrington.—
Ciara McCarthy
September 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Another, also built from white disks on a bending wire, evokes a mechanized Japanese cherry tree, its circles—perched high on a narrow stem—not revolving so much as brushing quickly past one another.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
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In the complicated, thorny, offensive, manipulative, sometimes hilarious, sometimes uncomfortable video interview, which evokes the feeling of an uncle sitting down with his hardheaded nephew, Thug is reeling and full of so much anxiety that his legs are shaking.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inspires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspires. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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