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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of inspire
On the anniversary day, a free four-week limited-time event called Blast From The Past will go live, rewarding players with items inspired by 2000s pop culture.
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Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
For a creative twist to any day on the island, The Library by the Sea serves up cocktails inspired by literary classics in a setting that feels both elegant and imaginative.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 15 Jan. 2025
The bulletin stated that Jabbar was inspired by ISIS but that there remains no evidence of any co-conspirators.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2025
The Bourbon Street attack is the seventh attack inspired by a foreign terror organization on U.S. soil since 2001, the bulletin said, and the first since 2017 to result in fatalities.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for inspire 
Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
For a creative twist to any day on the island, The Library by the Sea serves up cocktails inspired by literary classics in a setting that feels both elegant and imaginative.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 15 Jan. 2025
The bulletin stated that Jabbar was inspired by ISIS but that there remains no evidence of any co-conspirators.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2025
The Bourbon Street attack is the seventh attack inspired by a foreign terror organization on U.S. soil since 2001, the bulletin said, and the first since 2017 to result in fatalities.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for inspire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspire
Verb
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More muscular policing by NATO in the Baltic might encourage more assertive Chinese naval activity in the South China Sea, for example, or encourage more Iranian interdictions in the Persian Gulf.David Brennan, ABC News, 13 Jan. 2025
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To encourage these reforms, state governments and the federal government should provide funding and incentives to cities and townships to undertake structural zoning reforms.Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Still, seeing his lover’s smile elicits memories of their happier times together.Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 6 Jan. 2025
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The researchers determined that framing the gender gap in political leadership as an outcome of men's overrepresentation—such as emphasizing that 71% of Congress is male rather than noting that 29% is female—elicited greater anger among women and heightened perceptions of injustice.Kim Elsesser, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The idea of Ariana Grande being enough of an expert on gay slang to educate Yeoh is patently hilarious, but not in the way that the Golden Globes writers likely intended.James Factora, Them, 6 Jan. 2025
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The group’s funding comes from Mansoor and Haider Syed, two brothers who were born in Saudi Arabia but educated in the U.S. who led a fund established to buy a football club.Matt Woosnam, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The candid expressions of both the nomad and the dog evoke a sense of warmth and connection, even in a harsh and unforgiving environment.Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
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This collection evokes the simplicity and practicality of an urban uniform, but with a beauty and elegance that is unique to Moncler.Andrea Onate, WWD, 16 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Inspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspire. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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