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.
The Fifth Dimension’s inspirational medley “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” reached No. 1 in 1969.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
Wouldn’t Havens’ story be more inspirational than those?
From Slate • May 2, 2026
Since his arrest, Doyle has kept up a daily stream of inspirational Facebook posts.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026
It is important and inspirational and hopefully encourages others to pick up their pens or head off to do some crate digging or other cultural archeology.
From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026
But these were merely inspirational episodes that never quite lived up to their promise.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
