Synonyms of spark

spark 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to sparkle

to give off sparks

the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sparkle
• glow
• flash
• shine
• burn
• scintillate
• flame
• twinkle
• blaze
• light (up)
• radiate
• flare (up)
• combust

2

as in to trigger

to cause to function

interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trigger
• activate
• drive
• power
• generate
• ignite
• fuel
• move
• start
• provoke
• set off
• fire
• turn on
• actuate
• charge
• crank (up)
• run
• push
• touch off
• stimulate
• electrify
• energize
• launch
• switch
• arouse
• excite
• turn over
• release
• incite
• reactivate
• trip
• discharge
• accelerate
• catalyze
• recharge
• kick over
• instigate
• stir up
• jump-start
• quicken
• kick-start
• speed (up)
• vitalize
• step up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cut
• kill
• cut out
• shut off
• stop
• turn off
• check
• cut off
• brake
• halt
• stick
• arrest
• draw up
• suppress
• deactivate
• slow
• stall
• repress
• jam
• stunt
• decelerate

3

as in to provoke

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

• provoke
• encourage
• stimulate
• inspire
• stir
• arouse
• excite
• incite
• motivate
• move
• motive
• instigate
• fire (up)
• ignite
• rev (up)
• pique
• trigger
• induce
• drive
• impassion
• galvanize
• kindle
• anger
• energize
• activate
• inflame
• build a fire under
• set off
• animate
• foment
• fan
• quicken
• vitalize
• bother
• key (up)
• pump up
• ferment
• enrage
• whip (up)
• upset
• raise
• get
• tease
• abet
• annoy
• taunt
• aggravate
• irritate
• exasperate
• jeer
• vex
• madden
• gall

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calm
• soothe
• subdue
• appease
• placate
• tranquilize
• pacify
• mollify

spark

2 of 2

noun

ˈspärk 

as in glimmer

a very small amount

not a spark of interest in the actress's memoirs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• glimmer
• splash
• shred
• hint
• sprinkling
• speck
• touch
• little
• bit
• lick
• trace
• particle
• tad
• ray
• streak
• dab
• scintilla
• suspicion
• handful
• smack
• smidgen
• spatter
• pinch
• smell
• ounce
• sliver
• dash
• strain
• crumb
• dram
• spot
• minimum
• fleck
• shade
• nip
• drop
• ace
• bite
• mite
• shadow
• scruple
• peanuts
• soupçon
• snap
• portion
• dose
• drop in the bucket
• modicum
• skosh
• taste
• part
• driblet
• semblance
• grain
• molecule
• whit
• mote
• jot
• atom
• fragment
• vestige
• iota
• syllable
• scrap
• section
• dot
• nibble
• patch
• smattering
• scattering
• tittle
• minim
• granule
• morsel
• hoot
• splinter
• shiver
• shard
• chip
• flake
• nubbin
• flyspeck
• tatter
• clipping
• smatter
• paring
• shaving
• shot
• smithereens

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• plenty
• mass
• abundance
• lot
• wealth
• loads
• deal
• quantity
• mess
• bundle
• pile
• stack
• bucket
• barrel
• mountain
• profusion
• heaps
• bushel
• raft
• volume
• peck
• wad
• fistful
• reams
• surplus
• excess
• embarrassment
• lashings
• overflow
• boatload
• oodles
• gobs
• much
• scads
• potful
• bonanza
• passel
• overabundance
• superabundance
• surfeit
• superfluity
• chunk
• oversupply
• slab
• lump
• overage
• overkill
• hunk
• overmuch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spark

Verb

Clancy’s trial was polarizing and closely watched nationwide, sparking fierce debate about insanity defenses and postpartum mental health issues. — Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026

Kiffin’s departures from previous jobs have sparked intense levels of outrage. — Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Noun

Instead, the filmmaker begins with a farmer at the first spark in Essex, then follows him as the uprising gathers people, reaches London, and begins to turn against itself. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

This dichotomy, between depressive routine and the spark of something exciting, or even irksome, both informs each relationship, and clarifies (for the viewer) Arash’s state of mind the more his reasons are revealed. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026