Synonyms of inspiration

inspiration

noun

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

• motivation
• encouragement
• impetus
• incentive
• stimulation
• reason
• stimulus
• inducement
• excitement
• cause
• momentum
• spur
• spark
• fuel
• induction
• provocation
• stimulant
• prod
• boost
• influence
• instigation
• goad
• yeast
• impulse
• jog
• galvanization
• incitement
• mechanism
• tool
• ingredient
• incitation
• antecedent
• factor
• occasion
• determinant
• catalyzer
• lure
• expedient
• enticement

Dissimilar Words

• disincentive
• counterincentive
• subduing

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

• creativity
• imagination
• imaginativeness
• inventiveness
• ideation
• fantasy
• originality
• ingenuity
• brainstorming
• fertility
• resourcefulness
• invention
• fecundity
• brainstorm
• fancy
• contrivance
• versatility
• dream
• daydream
• illusion
• pipe dream
• visualization
• delusion
• mirage
• chimera
• hallucination
• figment
• phantasm
• mind's eye
• envisaging

Dissimilar Words

• literalness
• literality

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

• uplift
• comfort
• encouragement
• relief
• solace
• consolation
• happiness
• cheer
• reassurance
• assurance
• mitigation
• alleviation
• contentment
• assuagement
• gladness

Dissimilar Words

• distress
• anguish
• torture
• torment
• heartache
• heartbreak

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inspiration

Taking inspiration from their cousins—who had been members of the more famous Jesse and Frank James outlaw gang—the Dalton gang decided to rob two banks at once. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026

According to OpenAI, its design team developed the Dots characters with external partners, partly drawing inspiration from its earlier Codex Pets feature, aiming for something approachable that wouldn’t get in the way of work. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

For this Friday’s episode of The Run-Through, Nicole meets Klausner in the Vogue France offices to discuss the inspiration behind the show, his journey to Dries, and his industry peers. — Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026

The inspiration for the brand stemmed from O’Brien’s personal experience, having received an unexpected cancer diagnosis a few years back. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026