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
The Oasi Zegna is a territory spanning more than 62 miles and its colors and mood are also a source of inspiration for artistic director Alessandro Sartori, who has been developing the sustainable Oasi Cashmere and staged some shows there.
—
Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
By Daniel Varghese September 15, 2025 More Stories 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.
—Hannah Chubb, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
He’s played with such jazz stalwarts as Roy Haynes, Lee Morgan, Dizzy Gillespie — who reportedly hired the pianist without an audition — and Yusef Lateef, whom Barron credits as a key inspiration, especially with regards to his famed improvisational skills.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The two will continue to evolve their menus together, focusing on seasonality and new inspirations.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inspiration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspiration
Noun
-
Duffy denied any political motivation.—
-
His content, often featuring humorous music about food was intended as motivation for Lomax’s own health journey.—
Noun
-
This innovative approach not only speeds the design process but also frees up designers to focus on more creative tasks, demonstrating how AI can be used as a tool to augment human creativity rather than replace it.—
-
As a member of the Fine Art League of Cupertino, Choudhury volunteers his time and creativity to help people connect and grow through art.—
Noun
-
The country has successfully increased its film incentive to 30% on local spend without any cap, up from the initial 15% when first introduced in 2017, with an uplift to 20% before the recent increase at the end of last year.—
-
Ruth Porat, Alphabet and Google’s president and chief investment officer, is a former longtime CFO who is strategically evaluating what’s needed for AI to drive economic uplift.—
Noun
-
Her brother shaved his head alongside her, while friends organized care packages, drove her to sessions and offered constant encouragement.—
-
The chatbot repeatedly offered Nelson doting messages and constant encouragement, Turner-Scott claimed.—
Noun
-
For their part, many voters always seem to be searching for some idealized candidate who exists only in their imagination.—
-
The Visionary Award recognizes an individual who has uniquely and consistently employed the art and science of VFX to foster imagination and ignite future discoveries by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work.—
Noun
-
Now the number one new release of Amazon’s travel pillows, it’s crafted from high-density memory foam that provides 360-degree comfort.—
-
Flooring company Anderson Tuftex is seeing a resurgence in plush carpeting for bedrooms, stairs, hallways, and living rooms, where plush carpets add texture and warmth while increasing acoustic comfort by reducing sound.—
Noun
-
Similar moves in other antitrust actions, including the recent settlements in American college sports, have proven pivotal, with an initial settlement with one party providing the impetus for other parties to settle as well.—
-
Their impetus was to subvert the expectations of stories involving characters from their community.—
Noun
-
In a letter, interim superintendent Justin Hunt blamed, in part, the influx of COVID-19 relief funds for giving the school a false sense of security.—
-
Bank of America analyst Rafe Jadrosich said lower mortgage rates would bring some relief to house buyers grappling with high rates.—
Cite this Entry
“Inspiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspiration. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share