Filled with a strong, creative, or positive feeling that leads to especially good ideas or actions.
Past participle of 'inspire', from Latin 'inspirare' (to breathe into). The sense shifted from being filled with a divine spirit to being filled with powerful ideas or feelings.
When we say someone is inspired, we’re quietly using a word built on breath and spirit. It suggests that their work isn’t just technically good—it feels alive, as if something extra is moving through it.
Like “inspiration,” “inspired” has often been used to describe men’s work as divinely or creatively elevated while women’s similar achievements were framed as derivative or merely imitative. Women’s own claims to being inspired have sometimes been dismissed as emotional rather than visionary.
Use “inspired” evenly across genders, and avoid language that treats women’s inspired work as secondary or merely supportive. When describing influences, credit women originators, not just the men they inspired.
["motivated","influenced","creatively energized"]
In cultural and scientific narratives, recognize women whose inspired ideas or performances shifted their fields, even when credit was later reassigned to men.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.