inspiration

noun

The act or process of an elevating or stimulating influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity.

A person, object, or situation which quickens or stimulates an influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity.

A new idea, especially one which arises suddenly and is clever or creative.

A supernatural divine influence on the prophets, apostles, or sacred writers, by which they were qualified to communicate moral or religious truth with authority; a supernatural influence which qualifies people to receive and communicate divine truth; also, the truth communicated.

(physiology, uncountable) The drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls and flattening of the diaphragm, as part of the act of breathing.

(countable) A single inward breath (intake of air).

Roots

spirospir- · Latin · breathe

Synonyms for inspiration

afflatusn brainchildn aspirationn inhalationn encouragementn creativityn musen inspiritingadj geniusn

Synonyms & related words for inspiration

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of inspiration — including afflatus, brainchild, aspiration, inhalation, encouragement, creativity. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to inspiration

Explore words related to inspiration — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include inspirational, inspired, inspires, inspiring, inspirationally, inspirer, creativeness, inspiratory. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for inspiration

Common synonyms for inspiration include afflatus, brainchild, aspiration, inhalation, encouragement, creativity, muse, inspiriting — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does inspiration come from?

The word inspiration breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root spir-, from Latin spiro (“breathe”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.