inspirational
Americanadjective
-
imparting inspiration.
-
under the influence of inspiration; inspired. inspired.
-
of or relating to inspiration.
adjective
-
of, relating to, or tending to arouse inspiration; inspiring
-
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
More Positive Words to Describe a Person
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!
ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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!
Mardi Gras: Faith
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!
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.
Then we tumble into the realm of inspirational gurus and thought leaders, where breathwork and manifesting meet motivational speak, popping with familiar verbal kernels like “sparking joy” and “habit formation.”
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
A woman whose daughter is part of the athletics club who train at StoneX Stadium said she thought it was "remarkable" and "inspirational".
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Why it’s worth seeing: Come for the inspirational drama, stay for the spot-on Stallone portrayal by Ippolito, who—fun fact—has also played Al Pacino.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
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
The pentatonic aspect of Debussy’s piano music provided much inspirational fuel for later generations of jazz pianists.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
