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.
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Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Jan. 2026
The sales pitch rhetoric inspires few.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Jan. 2026
And then that usually inspires another melody and other parts of the song.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
What, these days, inspires you to hit the gym or work hard or pursue success in other ways?
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
His win shows a collective institutional political fatigue, and inspires hope, in a particularly dark time, that there is new light and new solutions to be found in American politics beyond the binary confines of institutional Democrats.
—Newsweek Contributors, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
The best thing about college football is the sense of community the sport inspires.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
After all, this Fire sign inspires the desire to take risks and indulge one’s lust for life.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Shining a light on fellow founders not only lifts them up but also inspires the next generation of women entrepreneurs.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspires
Verb
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Pruning perennials at the right time encourages plants to leaf out, grow bushier, develop sturdier stems, and potentially produce more flowers.—
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Loudermilk says this is just one of the many ways Lions Clubs work to support their communities and encourages anyone interested in joining to reach out.—
Verb
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The gift that elicits a hug from Farley Webster grew up in Michigan attending Riverside High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.—
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The thing that outrages, the thing that shocks, the thing that elicits the greatest response, and the greatest response of all of those emotional reactions is outrage, is fear, is shock, is anger.—
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
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Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Painted Turtle, which provides a summer camp experience for kids with serious medical issues, and the Bridge School, which educates children with severe speech and physical disabilities.—
Verb
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The Love So Savage campaign showcases the brand’s latest lineup — and evokes Ancient Greek — with a backdrop of grand marble columns and statues.—
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Loktev shot the film on an iPhone, which evokes a casual, intimate vibe — at least until the story accelerates into a thriller.—
Cite this Entry
“Inspires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspires. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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