inspire

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

v. breathe (in); stimulate, animate, [en]liven; spur, give an incentive. See cause, wind.

II

(Roget's IV) v.

1. [To encourage]

Syn. inspirit, invigorate, spur, animate; see encourage 2 , incite .

2. [To stimulate to creative activity]

Syn. fire, spark, stimulate, rouse, kindle, quicken, be the cause of, start off, put one in the mood, set aglow, give one the idea for, motivate, touch the imagination, give an impetus; see also cause 2 , excite 1 , urge 2 .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) v.

influence, stimulate, impel, arouse, prompt, motivate, spur, encourage, spark, stir, excite, ignite, inflame, trigger, give rise to.

ANT.: discourage, stifle, dampen

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) verb 1. To arouse the emotions of; make ardent: animate, enkindle, fire, impassion, kindle, stir1. See EXCITE. 2. To raise the spirits of: animate, buoy (up), elate, elevate, exhilarate, flush, inspirit, lift, uplift. Obsolete: exalt. See HAPPY. 3. To impart courage, inspiration, and resolution to: animate, cheer (on), embolden, encourage, inspirit, motivate. See HELP. 4. To stir to action or feeling: egg on, excite, foment, galvanize, goad, impel, incite, inflame, instigate, motivate, move, pique, prick, prod, prompt, propel, provoke, set off, spur, stimulate, touch off, trigger, work up. See CAUSE, EXCITE. 5. To draw air into the lungs in the process of respiration: breathe (in), inhale. See BREATH.