inspire

verb

in-ˈspī(-ə)r How to pronounce inspire (audio)
Definition of inspirenext
1
as in to encourage
to fill with courage or strength of purpose the rousing campaign speech inspired everyone to get out the vote

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2
as in to elicit
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved) what inspired that comment?

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3
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding great works of visual art can inspire us in ways that the written word often cannot

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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 inspire The experience inspired Allen to explore bringing the program to DC, eventually helping build support among the DC Council and mayor to launch it citywide. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Her philanthropic legacy includes the creation of the Imagination Library, which mails free books to children around the world and was inspired by her father, who was illiterate. — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026 This includes explaining the $566 million spent last fiscal year on immigration enforcement that inspired the Legislature in March to approve a bipartisan law mandating quarterly reports. — Liv Caputo, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 The movement helped inspire Jane Fonda to produce the 1980 movie. — Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inspire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspire
  1. encourage
  2. elicit
  3. educate
  4. evoke
Verb
  • Producer and 10 Lives founder and CEO Daniel Catullo set the stage for such a party by introducing the film and encouraging audience members to get out of their seats during the showing and record clips of the doc.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
  • So his church—which has raised many millions of dollars for good causes, and operates a local food pantry and food truck—decided to distribute lawn signs simply encouraging people to be kind.
    — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of encourage
Verb
  • Anthropic’s announcement elicited panic among some enthusiastic Claude adopters, who expressed concern about what a label on AI use might signal about them.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The same driver mutation, when introduced into different genetic backgrounds, elicited different responses in the circuits that govern whether a cell keeps dividing, specializes, becomes inflamed or dies.
    — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of elicit
Verb
  • During the tasting experience, experts will educate attendees on the process and history behind each whiskey.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
  • As one of the world’s leading manta ray research organizations, The Manta Trust is dedicated to educating and conserving habitats for these majestic creatures.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of educate
Verb
  • But thoughtfully designed and detailed, brick can evoke the full history of architecture and elevate a building’s status.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Follow rebellious 16-year-old Holden Caufield to New York City in Catcher in the Rye, in a tale that will evoke both humor and empathy from readers in equal measure.
    — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of evoke

Browse Nearby Words

inspirations
inspire
inspired
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Cite this Entry

“Inspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspire. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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