1
as in to sparkle
to give off sparks
the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in
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2
as in to trigger
to cause to function
interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain
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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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as in glimmer
a very small amount
not a spark of interest in the actress's memoirs
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spark
Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Late in the first half, Holguin sparked the Lightning with a long pass to reserve Audrey Reynolds for a layup, which cut Sierra Canyon’s lead to 32-24 with six seconds left.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Follow the spark and build from there.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spark
Verb
Film actor Timothée Chalamet recently sparked controversy in the performing arts world by characterizing ballet and opera as dying art forms — not a novel sentiment, of course, but rather the latest foray into an ongoing debate.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Late in the first half, Holguin sparked the Lightning with a long pass to reserve Audrey Reynolds for a layup, which cut Sierra Canyon’s lead to 32-24 with six seconds left.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
Despite the lack of live game reps, Flagg provided a spark and managed to find a way to be effective in several ways.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Follow the spark and build from there.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spark
Verb
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The company launched a line of sparkling protein beverages in January.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Imagine stepping onto a quiet stretch of sand, your toes sinking into sugar-white powder, waves lapping gently at the shore, and sunlight sparkling across the turquoise Gulf waters.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sparks or embers can drift into leaves or grass, triggering a fire that can rapidly propagate.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Mar. 2026
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War in Iran The US-Israeli conflict with Iran has triggered the biggest disruption to air travel across the Gulf region since the Covid-19 pandemic, with commercial airline operations thrown into turmoil by airspace closures.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lone spark from the hosts was Ross Johnston’s decisive fight win against Tyler Tucker, though Johnston was assessed a major penalty for boarding on the hit that provoked the conflict.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
9 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
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Yet by the end of Saturday night, there were slight glimmers of optimism for a team that hasn’t had much to cheer for this season.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2026
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There is also a glimmer of hope on the horizon that an infusion of payroll flexibility could come under a new owner — who could be in place sometime in the season’s first month — and that the Padres could add a starting pitcher via trade.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And so begins our journey, out from the Green Monster and onto the glowing screen.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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In a period defined by constant notifications and glowing screens, the bedroom is increasingly being redesigned as a space for intentional disconnection.—
Jacorey Moon,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
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The crash caused severe front-end damage to the sedan and activated its airbags, video from news-gathering agency OnScene shows.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Your 5th House of Frivolity welcomes Luna’s presence, encouraging expressive risks that feel joyful in the moment and help your confidence grow over time.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
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Slusser also alleged Kress encouraged her to move into the apartment with Fleming, when there was another group of teammates looking for a tenant as well.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Kansas City Chiefs’ reshaping of their running backs room did not end with splash free-agent signing Kenneth Walker.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
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Stung by his firing from The Lovely Bones, Wahlberg turns down The Fighter, thinking the film won’t be a big enough splash to turn his career around.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spark. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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