1
as in sparkles
to give off sparks
the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in triggers
to cause to function
interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provokes
to rouse to strong feeling or action
President Kennedy's inspirational speeches sparked a generation of young idealists to enter the public arena
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in splashes
a very small amount
not a spark of interest in the actress's memoirs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sparks
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 7 June 2026
The Rams’ blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett sparks fresh buzz about Aaron Donald unretiring, raising the possibility of two future Hall of Famers anchoring a defensive line at SoFi.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Its title alone sparks accusations of the most cynical motivations, yet the movie itself is winning most people over.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
Brith, who is ahead and in charge, is taking as her guide the stream, which sparks in the sunlight, cutting a narrow channel through the hillside, weaving itself around rocks and tree trunks, appearing and disappearing, diving underground then springing up in unexpected places.
—Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Our mission is to create bold, cinematic film and television that challenges perception, sparks conversation, and leaves a lasting emotional imprint.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 1 June 2026
The moon in Sagittarius, however, highlights your finances and resources before the Capricorn moon sparks productive conversations and practical problem-solving.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Prevent sparks by ensuring trailer chains do not drag on roadways and avoiding parking hot equipment on dry grass.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 31 May 2026
Investigators ask for patience after video sparks protests The police department provided the findings of the investigation to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for an independent review of any criminal violations, Fraser said.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
The Football War Tensions between Central American neighbors El Salvador and Honduras had been building for some time, but the two-game qualifying rounds for the 1970 World Cup provided the sparks for warfare.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026
Zach and Bryce, however, despite being paired with Kayda Reese Bosse and Trinity Tatum, respectively, continue to share sparks of flirtation.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 June 2026
Brith had shut her eyes, finding that the sparks were still living on the inside of the lids, vivid in their dangerous dark.
—Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
And yet year after year, the casting team does such an incredible job of finding the secret sauce amongst the cast to really make those sparks fly and make the show exciting.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 2 June 2026
The two stars strike sparks in one famously contentious scene.
—Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
According to the TikTok star, sparks did not fly at first, though.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
A lot of great footballers capture the imagination with their dynamism or sparks of brilliance.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Verb
The younger dude's use of Rick's musical idea and turning it into a worldwide hit sparks a thoughtful quest about fame and credit.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 7 June 2026
The Rams’ blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett sparks fresh buzz about Aaron Donald unretiring, raising the possibility of two future Hall of Famers anchoring a defensive line at SoFi.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Its title alone sparks accusations of the most cynical motivations, yet the movie itself is winning most people over.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
Brith, who is ahead and in charge, is taking as her guide the stream, which sparks in the sunlight, cutting a narrow channel through the hillside, weaving itself around rocks and tree trunks, appearing and disappearing, diving underground then springing up in unexpected places.
—Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Our mission is to create bold, cinematic film and television that challenges perception, sparks conversation, and leaves a lasting emotional imprint.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 1 June 2026
The moon in Sagittarius, however, highlights your finances and resources before the Capricorn moon sparks productive conversations and practical problem-solving.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Prevent sparks by ensuring trailer chains do not drag on roadways and avoiding parking hot equipment on dry grass.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 31 May 2026
Investigators ask for patience after video sparks protests The police department provided the findings of the investigation to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for an independent review of any criminal violations, Fraser said.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Noun
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
The Football War Tensions between Central American neighbors El Salvador and Honduras had been building for some time, but the two-game qualifying rounds for the 1970 World Cup provided the sparks for warfare.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026
Zach and Bryce, however, despite being paired with Kayda Reese Bosse and Trinity Tatum, respectively, continue to share sparks of flirtation.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 June 2026
Brith had shut her eyes, finding that the sparks were still living on the inside of the lids, vivid in their dangerous dark.
—Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
And yet year after year, the casting team does such an incredible job of finding the secret sauce amongst the cast to really make those sparks fly and make the show exciting.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 2 June 2026
The two stars strike sparks in one famously contentious scene.
—Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
According to the TikTok star, sparks did not fly at first, though.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
A lot of great footballers capture the imagination with their dynamism or sparks of brilliance.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparks
Verb
-
As its name suggests, this pool is nestled in a canyon above UC Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium, where its blue water sparkles amid the green forest.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
-
Isabelle Huppert sparkles in sequins at the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony in France on May 23.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Both are subject to disruption from the Milky Way's gravity, which triggers bursts of star formation within them and rips away a stream of gas from both, called the Magellanic Stream.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
7 June 2026
-
This temperature disparity triggers a phenomenon known as the Weibel instability, which generates the magnetic fields.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Such a statistic often provokes a familiar gamut of responses from those who read it, from shock, disgust and anger to a debilitating sense of helplessness.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
Likewise, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently warned that the bond market will ultimately prove to be the factor that provokes some action from DC when investors begin to demand higher premiums to continue buying debt.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
The lines are clean and sharp, the palette muted, approaching grayscale (which makes later splashes of color, like in the gaudy decor of a talk show or the blood-rust-red of a post-apocalyptic sky, pop even more), and motion within the frame is kept to a minimum.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
Hockney’s paintings of pool water and splashes demonstrated his obsession with capturing elemental natural phenomena, even in suburban settings.—
Mark Rozzo,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
His writing glows with his obvious love of plants and animals, not least his faithful dog, Roger.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
10 June 2026
-
Because of the black hole's immense gravitational forces, an AGN glows very brightly.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
With swift footwork, Bottura activates his celebrity to focus the world’s attention on the tragedy in Modena.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The carrier's new Unlimited Day Pass, available on eSIM-capable unlocked iPads, does not require a contract or a credit check before a $3 payment activates 24 hours of mobile broadband.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The scene of the two boys discussing Kayda is kind of funny, especially the number of times Zach laughs and encourages Bryce to go for it.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
-
The new standard encourages companies to prioritize direct emissions reductions across operations and value chains, while at the same time adjusting systems within their operation where direct decarbonization isn’t possible.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
The chance of advancing from the group phase isn’t far-fetched, with a diverse squad of new and seasoned players and recent results that offer glimmers of hope for a run in the tournament.—
Jim Sciutto,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
At the outset this year, however, glimmers of hope appeared to emerge.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sparks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparks. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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