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

But the agency sparked concerns with its attempts to gain access to sensitive databases kept by the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration and Office of Personnel Management. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

But those glasses have sparked privacy concerns, and Meta’s previous hardware efforts failed to excite consumers. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Noun

But on the flip side, the spark that drew them together in the first place is also still there, in exactly the same way. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

With the Chiefs trailing by three, the team was in need of an offensive spark. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026