1
as in sparkles
to give off sparks
the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of sparks
Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
This appeal to his vanity sparks something ugly in his eye.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Born blind and yearning for connection, his early obsession with the telephone sparks a subculture that shapes the future of hacking and technology.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
His old supporters may not wish him well during the match, but returning 10 years after his professional debut for the club, this tie could provide him with a moment that sparks even more success in the coming months.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Each of the pitchers who worked in the previous day’s game has the chance to talk about his performance, and that sparks a discussion among the whole group.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
The odyssey sparks no miracle but, yes, a collective rebirth.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
On a mission to save a beloved patch of nature from a construction project in the fictional town of Beaverton, the beaver-bodied Mabel inadvertently sparks an uprising among the animals that live there.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 8 Mar. 2026
Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Creative sparks land in real, joyful ways.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
The cause of the fire at a Beacon Street brownstone was determined to be sparks from unpermitted welding work on a windy day.
—Louisa Moller, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
The presence of hard-news personnel in what has often been seen as a softer medium has the potential to generate sparks.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Even sparks or embers carried by the wind can ignite nearby leaves or grass, triggering a fire that spreads rapidly.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Festivalgoers hope the sparks will cast off bad luck.
—CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
In addition to structural damage, the data centers also experienced power disruptions and some water damage after firefighters worked to put out sparks and fire.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
March 21 – April 19 Creative sparks crave room to play.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2026
Aries March 21 – April 19 Creative sparks crave room to play.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Lynette Howell Taylor and CEO Bill Kramer told me in a recent interview that one of their biggest challenges has been crafting the oft-discussed and debated In Memoriam segment, which inevitably sparks an outcry when someone is left out.
—Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
This appeal to his vanity sparks something ugly in his eye.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Born blind and yearning for connection, his early obsession with the telephone sparks a subculture that shapes the future of hacking and technology.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
His old supporters may not wish him well during the match, but returning 10 years after his professional debut for the club, this tie could provide him with a moment that sparks even more success in the coming months.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Each of the pitchers who worked in the previous day’s game has the chance to talk about his performance, and that sparks a discussion among the whole group.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
The odyssey sparks no miracle but, yes, a collective rebirth.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
On a mission to save a beloved patch of nature from a construction project in the fictional town of Beaverton, the beaver-bodied Mabel inadvertently sparks an uprising among the animals that live there.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 8 Mar. 2026
Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Creative sparks land in real, joyful ways.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
October 23 – November 21 Creative sparks want extra room to grow now.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
The cause of the fire at a Beacon Street brownstone was determined to be sparks from unpermitted welding work on a windy day.
—Louisa Moller, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
The presence of hard-news personnel in what has often been seen as a softer medium has the potential to generate sparks.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Even sparks or embers carried by the wind can ignite nearby leaves or grass, triggering a fire that spreads rapidly.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Festivalgoers hope the sparks will cast off bad luck.
—CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
In addition to structural damage, the data centers also experienced power disruptions and some water damage after firefighters worked to put out sparks and fire.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
March 21 – April 19 Creative sparks crave room to play.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2026
Aries March 21 – April 19 Creative sparks crave room to play.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparks
Verb
-
The drawing depicts Yosemite Falls in graphite, ink, chalk and charcoal on paper that sparkles.—
Brooke Park,
San Francisco Chronicle,
14 Mar. 2026
-
In the doc Margolyes sparkles when in company, whether that be royalty, celeb, or Director Simon.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ultraviolet light from its host star triggers the creation of sulfur dioxide in the upper atmosphere, and a massive sub-surface magma ocean acts as a buffer, storing and releasing volatile gases over billions of years.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Jumping from humid 85-degree tropical air into a cool swimming pool normally triggers a jolt of cold shock.—
Joe Jackson,
Outside,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
What is beauty if not precisely the property that provokes us to abandon all pretense of analytic remove in our desperation to draw closer?—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The aroma of coffee brewing reliably provokes desire.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The design here avoids ski-lodge clichés but maintains splendid common areas, including a cozy library and a grand lobby decorated with stone and wood finishes and splashes of rich red and orange hues.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
-
When ready, add the cheese gradually, off heat, alternating with splashes of reserved pasta water while stirring or tossing vigorously to create a smooth, emulsified sauce.—
Hana Asbrink,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The robot carries a hose that glows in dark, smoky environments.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Behind them, Guardian Angel Catholic Church in East Hollywood glows with worn blue plaster walls against the SoCal golden-hour sun.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The moody Moon activates your 3rd House of Chatter while squaring radical Uranus in your 6th House of Sensibility, prompting updates in accordance with shifting timelines.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Leaning forward demands strength and stability in your core and lower back, while a rowing motion activates your shoulder, arm, and upper back muscles.—
Jenessa Connor,
Health,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The law also prohibits the development of AI that encourages a person to commit suicide, harm themselves, harm another person or engage in criminal activity.—
SEUNG MIN KIM,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Aside from no-single-use plastics in rooms and the touches mentioned previously, 1 Hotels’ universal 1 Less Thing initiative encourages guests to leave an item of clothing behind that will be donated to a local charity.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Yet by the end of Saturday night, there were slight glimmers of optimism for a team that hasn’t had much to cheer for this season.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2026
-
You’re known for making documentaries about positive glimmers of hope from places around the world where otherwise there’s mostly been doom and despair.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sparks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparks. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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