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
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Recent Examples of sparks
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
The Leo moon sparks your restless desires for fun and adventure.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Houthi involvement sparks concerns Houthi Brig.
—Sam Metz, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
What sparks your curiosity about this event?
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Speedy winger Calvin Harris’ ability to get in behind often sparks the rush down the pitch.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Every exchange reveals a story, sparks a friendship and changes a life.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
As the Middle East conflict reshapes shipping corridors and sparks concerns of fuel costs, FedEx is appearing to shrug off any serious impacts to its business.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 23 Mar. 2026
This sparks an idea in Pacquito Villa and Franck Churchill, who is the White manager of several YMCAs in the Philippines and a promoter, to market Francisco and other Filipino fighters to American audiences, especially that Filipino fighters can fight and be used for profit.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
Kylie Jenner makes only her second-ever podcast appearance for the premiere episode of the project that encourages visitors to discuss the sparks, shifts and stories that stand out from their path.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Additionally, exercise caution if operating any equipment that could create sparks, and keep vehicles off of dry grass.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2026
Lithium-ion and other rechargeable batteries can ignite when crushed or punctured inside collection trucks, which can ignite sparks and fire, potentially destroying the truck, never mind jeopardizing the safety of the driver.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
And sparks will fly come training camp, as iron sharpens iron.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Video shows pedestrians jumping for cover as the driver speeds by, causing sparks to fly.
—Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
October 23 – November 21 Creative sparks want extra room to grow now.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
This sparks all kinds of adverse reaction, mainly from McCarthy’s snotty pals and girlfriends, a tribe so fiercely materialistic and shallow as to make current Less Than Zero-types seem well rounded by comparison.
—Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
The Leo moon sparks your restless desires for fun and adventure.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Houthi involvement sparks concerns Houthi Brig.
—Sam Metz, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
What sparks your curiosity about this event?
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Speedy winger Calvin Harris’ ability to get in behind often sparks the rush down the pitch.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Every exchange reveals a story, sparks a friendship and changes a life.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
As the Middle East conflict reshapes shipping corridors and sparks concerns of fuel costs, FedEx is appearing to shrug off any serious impacts to its business.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 23 Mar. 2026
This sparks an idea in Pacquito Villa and Franck Churchill, who is the White manager of several YMCAs in the Philippines and a promoter, to market Francisco and other Filipino fighters to American audiences, especially that Filipino fighters can fight and be used for profit.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
Witness footage from inside the cabin showed sparks and flames trailing from beneath the wing as the jet climbed out.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
Kylie Jenner makes only her second-ever podcast appearance for the premiere episode of the project that encourages visitors to discuss the sparks, shifts and stories that stand out from their path.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Additionally, exercise caution if operating any equipment that could create sparks, and keep vehicles off of dry grass.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2026
Lithium-ion and other rechargeable batteries can ignite when crushed or punctured inside collection trucks, which can ignite sparks and fire, potentially destroying the truck, never mind jeopardizing the safety of the driver.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
And sparks will fly come training camp, as iron sharpens iron.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Video shows pedestrians jumping for cover as the driver speeds by, causing sparks to fly.
—Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
October 23 – November 21 Creative sparks want extra room to grow now.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 16 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
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Rain also triggers personal associations — cozy indoor afternoons, quiet nights, childhood rainy days.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, with snow and heavy rain that triggers flash floods often killing dozens, or even hundreds, of people at a time.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At work, Paige (Elle Chapman) punches a coworker who provokes her with truly unkind remarks about her father's death.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
21 Mar. 2026
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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
Noun
-
The Braves didn’t make many offseason splashes but instead should get a lot of key players back to full health after a disastrous run of injuries throughout 2025.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Hundreds of monarch butterflies are painted across the translucent panels, and when sunlight shines through, the structure glows in rich amber tones.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
There’s a small LED indicator on the top of the device that pulses white when the sensor is ready for setup, briefly glows red when motion is detected, and briefly flashes green and blue during a reset.—
John R. Delaney,
PC Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Removing visual stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces cortisol.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Sensory Reduction and Cortisol Removing visual stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces cortisol.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Haller encourages anyone with an early or strong family history of colon cancer to talk to their doctor and get screened even earlier.—
Emily McLeod,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
As Adam reenters the dating world, his sister encourages him to view it as a fresh start, and scenic designer Milo Bue visually evokes the idea of a blank slate by employing off-whites and greys for Adam’s studio apartment in New York City.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But there are glimmers of hope beyond the carnage, too.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Following three straight 100-loss seasons that led to a front-office house cleaning, Rockies fans are peering down the road for glimmers of hope.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sparks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparks. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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