inspirational
Americanadjective
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imparting inspiration.
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under the influence of inspiration; inspired. inspired.
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of or relating to inspiration.
adjective
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of, relating to, or tending to arouse inspiration; inspiring
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resulting from inspiration; inspired
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inspirational
First recorded in 1830–40; inspiration + -al 1
Explanation
Anything inspirational lifts up your spirits. Inspirational words make people feel happier, more capable, and more like they can accomplish their goals. Have you ever seen a proverb on someone's desk or refrigerator that they use to cheer themselves up? That's probably an inspirational quote. A lot of religious language is inspirational, and many actions can be inspirational as well. When someone climbs Mount Everest, that's inspirational because it inspires other people to do great or difficult things. When times are tough, people seek out things that are inspirational.
Vocabulary lists containing inspirational
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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.
I came here to pursue acting and writing full time, which sounded either inspirational or financially irresponsible depending on the day.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
Followers appreciate that their content is more educational or inspirational than an unboxing video or #sponcon post—and the way that it can sometimes scratch a voyeuristic itch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Lucie Green, a solar physicist at University College London working on the mission, told AFP that total solar eclipses were "inspirational for everybody, artists and scientists alike".
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
He added: "When he came to Liverpool, he was a star waiting to happen. We got a superhero in 1971 and he was a revelation. He was inspirational."
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Sean put his hands on my shoulders, ready to deliver a patented inspirational speech.
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
