1
as in to sparkle
to give off sparks
the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to trigger
to cause to function
interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in glimmer
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 spark
Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 13 Aug. 2025
Scottie Scheffler's dominance in men's golf has sparked comparisons to Tiger Woods more than once.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Prospect proves that no creative spark is too small and every moment in nature matters.
—Ginger Perra, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spark
Verb
Still, the decision has sparked some outrage among those in a fanbase that have been disappointed with the product on the field and have become disillusioned with ownership, particularly in recent years.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 13 Aug. 2025
Scottie Scheffler's dominance in men's golf has sparked comparisons to Tiger Woods more than once.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
Devon had a romantic history with both Hilary and Amanda, and the sparks certainly seemed to fly between Devon and Dani on Beyond the Gates.
—Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Prospect proves that no creative spark is too small and every moment in nature matters.
—Ginger Perra, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spark
Verb
-
Handwritten place cards, soft background music, and a welcome drink of sparkling water or champagne upon arrival—these are the elements that will make your gathering truly memorable.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Manning came on and sparkled (9-for-12, 223 yards, 5 total TDs) in a blowout.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Israel-Hamas war was triggered after Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The series was triggered by a series of online images which motivated Krecké’s six year mission to research obsessively and merge digital sleuthing with emotional introspection to understand the personal and collective trauma behind the destruction wreaked through war.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As a futurist, my role was to provoke fresh insight and decisive action.—
Lisa Bodell,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Casey Durkin—Bravo While Jax, surely at the urging of producers, tried to provoke Kristen by questioning her fertility choices, nothing major happened in the premiere.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But the nearest thing to a glimmer of a positive would be that the fast development of COVID-19 vaccines helped prevent many more deaths and led to rapid progress in our understanding and use of mRNA technology.—
Simon Williams,
Time,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Starboard’s intentions this time around aren’t clear — the firm didn’t respond to CNBC’s request for comment — but its maneuvering nevertheless represents a glimmer of hope.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Flaky croissants warm in glowing bakeries, accordion notes drift through the air, and lovers linger by the Seine.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts will glow orange, as well.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
About 800 National Guard troops are being activated, with Humvees parked along the Washington Monument and near Union Station.—
John Seewer,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Aug. 2025
-
The Pro Bowl linebacker was finally activated from the physically unable to perform list last Sunday after 11 months of rehabbing and trying to get back on the practice field.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Terminator 2: Judgement Day star also shared encouraging words for others who might be struggling with their own mental health.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Are there opportunities for workshops for parents? Innovation Balance: Do policies encourage responsible experimentation or only focus on restrictions?—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Making that kind of a splash move would indicate that Houston would prefer to keep Durant around long-term.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Much like a regular playground, there are no staff supervising the splash park, according to Wooten.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
The Enquirer,
9 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spark. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share