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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sparks
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2026
Decades later, that nostalgia still sparks a familiar question – what ever happened to the stars who made Petticoat Junction so unforgettable?
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
Think heirloom pieces, personal artwork, family photos, and anything else that sparks feelings of love and joy.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Bloom 8-6 (NR) Senior forward Troy Garner sparks Blazing Trojans to consolation championship at Pontiac.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Prescott’s performance this season sparks optimism for the offense.
—Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
The instinctive Moon joins joyous Jupiter in your 5th House of Entertainment, inviting you to say yes to a hobby that sparks delight.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026
Quinten Post scored 14 points and Pat Spencer put in 10 with four assists as fellow sparks off the bench.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
Continue reading … CLARIFIED CASE – DHS fires back after viral video sparks claims about ICE daycare raid.
—FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
The players-only meeting was one of two major sparks for Washington.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Investigators believe the fire started when a combine harvester in an agricultural field sent up some sort of sparks and ignited hay bales.
—Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
With sparks immediately flying, Derek offers Nikki a dream job working at the winery.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
Researchers recreated various fire and non-fire situations, such as lighters, welding sparks, and electric heaters, to train the AI for accurate fire identification.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
Multiple smaller explosions were also caught on camera, lighting up the night with electrical sparks into the night sky with sharp popping sounds.
—Bonny Chu , Landon Mion , Elizabeth Pritchett, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
In the video, a fireball erupts several feet into the air and past the building’s panes of glass, showering sparks.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
Not lightning bolts of clarity — just little sparks.
—Rochelle Ratkaj, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
But his pursuit of art sparks a high-stakes battle with law enforcement in this intimate portrait of risk, resilience, and freedom in modern America.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2026
Decades later, that nostalgia still sparks a familiar question – what ever happened to the stars who made Petticoat Junction so unforgettable?
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
Think heirloom pieces, personal artwork, family photos, and anything else that sparks feelings of love and joy.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Bloom 8-6 (NR) Senior forward Troy Garner sparks Blazing Trojans to consolation championship at Pontiac.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Prescott’s performance this season sparks optimism for the offense.
—Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
The instinctive Moon joins joyous Jupiter in your 5th House of Entertainment, inviting you to say yes to a hobby that sparks delight.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026
Quinten Post scored 14 points and Pat Spencer put in 10 with four assists as fellow sparks off the bench.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
Continue reading … CLARIFIED CASE – DHS fires back after viral video sparks claims about ICE daycare raid.
—FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
But as Venus and the sun move into Aquarius, love takes on a more practical tone, showing you how consistency can be just as seductive as the actual sparks.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
The players-only meeting was one of two major sparks for Washington.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Investigators believe the fire started when a combine harvester in an agricultural field sent up some sort of sparks and ignited hay bales.
—Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
With sparks immediately flying, Derek offers Nikki a dream job working at the winery.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
Researchers recreated various fire and non-fire situations, such as lighters, welding sparks, and electric heaters, to train the AI for accurate fire identification.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
Multiple smaller explosions were also caught on camera, lighting up the night with electrical sparks into the night sky with sharp popping sounds.
—Bonny Chu , Landon Mion , Elizabeth Pritchett, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
In the video, a fireball erupts several feet into the air and past the building’s panes of glass, showering sparks.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
Not lightning bolts of clarity — just little sparks.
—Rochelle Ratkaj, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparks
Verb
-
Additionally, hometown hero and skier Gus Kenworthy acts as host for the entire week, which features events like the blow-out White Party, a drag and burlesque show with both national and local talent, and the Glitter Ball where anything that sparkles is in fashion.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The sunshine sparkles upon the ripples of the gently moving water, which is clear and colored like tea by natural plant tannins.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
If a situation escalates, pressing and holding the SOS button triggers a full safety sequence.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The big risk as things stand is that an adversary misreads his mixed signals, oversteps, and triggers an escalation nobody wants.—
Comfort Ero,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The result is a film that provokes thought more than feeling, one that invites discussion, while denying audiences the emotional dimension that might have driven home its relevance.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
3 Jan. 2026
-
But when her latest husband, discord spirit Raksh, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina must clean up his blunder, contend with Marjana’s demands for the truth…and figure out who on her crew is plotting a mutiny.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Those bright white tees seem to be absolute stain magnets attracting coffee drips, spaghetti sauce spots, and salad dressing splashes.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Atlas is also built to withstand harsh conditions, operating reliably in temperatures from -4°F to 104°F, and is waterproofed to protect it from splashes on factory floors.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Monet’s Palazzo Ducale centers on the Venetian landmark rendered in diffused brushstrokes, with a dial that glows orange under UV light — a nod to the interplay of light and reflection in Monet’s work.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The colors are made with neon gas, which glows when electricity runs through it.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Your 2nd House of Resources activates as the life-giving Sun conjoins combative Mars, motivating you to polish your skills, then price your improved work fairly.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Stomach acid activates digestive enzymes, which help break down food.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pruning perennials at the right time encourages plants to leaf out, grow bushier, develop sturdier stems, and potentially produce more flowers.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Loudermilk says this is just one of the many ways Lions Clubs work to support their communities and encourages anyone interested in joining to reach out.—
Jessica Riley,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In non-theme park play, the game revolves around Illumineers, glimmers, inklands, a lorebook and other buzzwords and actions that are important to players.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Jan. 2026
-
From there, the glimmers of a more peaceful existence — one fueled by expression, not recklessness — give Lidia hope.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sparks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparks. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
