as in breathtaking
causing great emotional or mental stimulation
an inspiring idea for a national program in which young people would commit themselves to a year of community service
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in encouraging
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
the rousing campaign speech inspired everyone to get out the vote
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in eliciting
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved)
what inspired that comment?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in educating
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
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 inspiring
John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Besides being an inspiring concert, this will be old home week for hundreds of New Haven scenesters.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2025
John Hall, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
This movie will shock you throughout—and that includes its final, awe-inspiring frame.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inspiring
Adjective
Now in its fifth year, the award generates nominations of accomplished and inspiring mayors, city council members, county commissioners, constitutional officers, members of the General Assembly and others.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Besides being an inspiring concert, this will be old home week for hundreds of New Haven scenesters.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
Instead, great leaders lead by inspiring their teams, beginning with being loud and proud about their own vulnerabilities.
—John Hall, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
This movie will shock you throughout—and that includes its final, awe-inspiring frame.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inspiring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspiring
Adjective
-
The chef’s kitchen is just as impressive, decked out with a stone pizza oven, high-end appliances, and dramatic picture windows that showcase the breathtaking city-to-ocean views.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Beneath the breathtaking view of the Camelback and Mummy Mountains, Taylor and Hooker exchanged both handwritten and traditional vows.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Unfortunately, current leadership isn’t fostering a new narrative or encouraging positive change.—
Jennifer Guzman,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2025
-
The recent record highs in the S&P 500 were partly driven by optimism that the Federal Reserve would continue cutting interest rates through 2025, making borrowing cheaper and encouraging economic activity.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Bosa shouted, eliciting cheers from his teammates.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Kardashian posted a clip of the video on Instagram, eliciting strong reactions.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA TODAY,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Billions in tax dollars are spent educating Kentucky's public school students each year, with the largest chunk of change going toward the almost 100,000 staff members running the state's schools.—
Krista Johnson,
The Courier-Journal,
24 Dec. 2024
-
This fosters inclusivity by respecting individual traditions, ensuring meaningful celebrations, and educating the team on these holidays, creating a workplace culture where everyone feels valued and included.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
After competing to see who could thread a cushion full of needles the quickest (which still managed to be more exciting than Squid Game: The Challenge's anticlimactic game of Rock, Paper, Scissors), the final three took their places behind their boxes for one final game.—
Jillian Sederholm,
EW.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The tools offer exciting new clues to how people living in the area thousands of years ago may have lived and interacted.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Clearly, the key to evoking the holiday spirit with a basic little black dress or skirt is through a statement coat with crystal embellishments.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
29 Dec. 2024
-
In 1816, Lord Byron penned Darkness, a haunting poem evoking apocalyptic imagery eerily aligned with the volcanic winter.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Having said that, there might be interesting parallels with other cases and countries.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The series has an interesting group of producers including Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, who is a lifelong Blues fan, who will exec produce, and Tom Brady, who bought a minority stake in the club in August 2023 and will produce via his Religion of Sports label.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
What’s Not In There were some intriguing omissions.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Built in 2019 and completed in 2020, the five-bedroom, eight-bathroom house has an intriguing backstory that lines up perfectly with its glamorous exterior and interior.—
TJ Macias,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inspiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspiring. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share