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spark 1 of 2

verb

Definition of sparknext
1
as in to sparkle
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 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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spark

2 of 2

noun

ˈspärk How to pronounce spark (audio)
as in glimmer
a very small amount not a spark of interest in the actress's memoirs

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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
Verb
Even if Della Francesca was an early Renaissance master rather than a neoclassicist, McGirr’s conceit sparked a certain curiosity. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026 Mining for copper fell in the first half of the year relative to the same period in 2025, sparking fears over long-term supplies of the metal, which is key for the clean energy transition and building data centers. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
Jarius Ingram found the end zone twice, but North Crowley reclaimed its spark with some help from wide receiver Damarion Mays. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Sep. 2026 Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall, and Kylie balance empire-building with something far more personal, from unexpected sparks and new relationships, to healing old wounds and embracing independence. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spark
  1. sparkle
  2. trigger
  3. provoke
  4. glimmer
  5. glow
  6. activate
  7. encourage
  8. splash
Verb
  • Auroras blaze on the lefthand side of the photo, and star trails sparkle across the blackness of space in the distance.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Indeed, in her devotion to sparkle, Pechman declines to probe too deeply into any of the industry’s more hurtful or exploitative dimensions.
    — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of sparkle
Verb
  • Russian hybrid attacks are different from a traditional armed attack, but the alliance could theoretically trigger the collective defense clause in those cases.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The cortex is where the slow rhythms of deep sleep can be seen, but researchers assumed the signals that triggered them originated elsewhere.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of trigger
Verb
  • At the start of the war, many economists and analysts feared that the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz would provoke an acute energy crisis and economic downturn, or worse.
    — RICHARD HAASS, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Tom Cruise‘s Digger is being called a very big swing of a dramatic satire that’s provoking very mixed reactions after the film’s first press screenings.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of provoke
Noun
  • These are the glimmers of something in the fringes that keep The Cherry Orchard, even in our age of jonesing to burn it all down, so miraculously delicate and devastating.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The summer departure of Pep Guardiola after a decade in charge of Manchester City offered rivals Manchester United a glimmer of hope that a shift in power could be around the corner.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of glimmer
Verb
  • My hair was thick, curly, and lush; my lips were full; my decades-long struggle with hormonal acne slowed to a stop; and my skin glowed.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Of course the playwright has prepared the way, but the wayward emotions emanating from these inwardly glowing performances are refreshing in work that has the crisp, circumscribed elegance of a mathematical proof.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of glow
Verb
  • Gonzalez Reyes then returned to his vehicle and drove away with its police-style siren activated, investigators said.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Nicotine activates reward pathways in the brain, which can create a temporary sense of pleasure and well-being.
    — Hasmeena Kathuria, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of activate
Verb
  • While the rest of the table is encouraging growth and forgiveness, Meredith is refusing to budge, completely stonewalling this apology and completely willing to die on this hill.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The dairy farmer agreed with a comment from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins encouraging Americans to seek out other forms of protein, including turkey, amid a rise in the cost of beef.
    — Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of encourage
Noun
  • The momentum around derbies paused over summer—sandals always dominate the footwear scene as soon as the temperatures rise—but now that fall is here, the closed-toe shoe seems poised to make a big splash again.
    — María Munsuri, Glamour, 19 Sep. 2026
  • For all the back-to-back work, there were some splashes of imposter syndrome.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of splash

Browse Nearby Words

sparingly
spark
sparked
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Cite this Entry

“Spark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spark. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spark

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