inspire

[in-spahyuhr] / ɪnˈspaɪər /

VERB

encourage, stimulate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

affect animate arouse cause embolden excite galvanize get hearten impress influence instill motivate produce provoke spark spur stir sway touch trigger

STRONG

carry commove elate endue enkindle enliven exalt exhilarate imbue infect inflame inform infuse inspirit invigorate occasion quicken reassure strike urge

WEAK

be responsible for fire up give impetus give one an idea give rise to set up start off work up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bore calm deaden depress discourage dissuade halt leave alone lull please quiet stop

STRONG

dishearten dull enervate lose

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The goal here is not to shame you, but to inspire a new approach.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

Traditional remedies may contain biologically active compounds that can inspire new treatments when they are studied with modern methods.

From Science Daily • Jun. 7, 2026

Will this prevent lots of Americans’ nest eggs from getting involved in companies that do not inspire the boring confidence of the market?

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026

"His leadership, skill and unwavering commitment to the jersey set standards that continue to inspire generations of players," added O'Driscoll.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Thus, there is no evidence that the earliest Chinese scribes could have had knowledge of any other writing system to inspire them.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Vocabulary lists containing inspire

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Christmas Carol Vocab: A Lyrical Lexicon

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Michelle Obama's final address as First Lady (2017)

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!