1
2
as in triggered
to cause to function
interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provoked
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sparked
Detectives from the city's Fire Investigation Unit are working to learn what sparked the flames.
—
Mike Darnay, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
The campaign has sparked political outcry and court challenges.
—Kanishka Singh, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
What about Faces of Death sparked your interest?
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
Those experiences sparked her desire to start an all-girls, fall baseball league at Warren Park.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Today, Henry Ren reports on a social media post that has sparked debate about the Chinese startup scene.
—Henry Ren, Bloomberg, 15 Apr. 2026
Northern Colorado residents living near Carter Lake Reservoir in Larimer County were ordered to evacuate Wednesday morning after a new wildfire sparked, according to county officials.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
The reprieve on Tuesday would allow some time for the two sides to reach a longer agreement to end the six-week-old war, which has killed thousands of people and sparked a global energy crisis, with their delegations expected to meet in Islamabad on Friday.
—Anniek Bao,sam Meredith, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
That probably messed up our mindset and sparked a broader demand for new attractions.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Mike Darnay, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
The campaign has sparked political outcry and court challenges.
—Kanishka Singh, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
What about Faces of Death sparked your interest?
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
Those experiences sparked her desire to start an all-girls, fall baseball league at Warren Park.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Today, Henry Ren reports on a social media post that has sparked debate about the Chinese startup scene.
—Henry Ren, Bloomberg, 15 Apr. 2026
Northern Colorado residents living near Carter Lake Reservoir in Larimer County were ordered to evacuate Wednesday morning after a new wildfire sparked, according to county officials.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
The reprieve on Tuesday would allow some time for the two sides to reach a longer agreement to end the six-week-old war, which has killed thousands of people and sparked a global energy crisis, with their delegations expected to meet in Islamabad on Friday.
—Anniek Bao,sam Meredith, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
That probably messed up our mindset and sparked a broader demand for new attractions.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparked
Verb
-
Chiney Ogwumike wowed in a two-piece ensemble that shimmered and sparkled in black sequins.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The Skims founder debuted a bold new haircut in a molten gold gown that sparkled from every angle.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In Carrollton in 2024, leaking natural gas entered a sewer system and triggered a home explosion that killed a man.—
Lexi Salazar,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
That has alarmed free-speech advocates and triggered federal and state-filed antitrust lawsuits, including one that the Colorado Attorney General’s office signed on to.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An argument over a handgun that a man brought to a Fort Worth gender reveal party provoked an exchange of gunfire that injured five people including the suspect, a detective wrote in an arrest warrant affidavit.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Apr. 2026
-
When outliers such as Jeff Sessions and Chris Christie straggled into his camp, their betrayal provoked mockery and outrage.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For her rare public outing, the teen—whom Beyoncé shares with husband Jay-Z—glowed in a luminous white New Arrivals minidress featuring a strapless design and delicate ruching.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Inside, there was a puzzling, almost magical blue powder that glowed in the dark.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The center was initially activated on Friday after heavy rain in Cheboygan caused water levels to rise along the river and the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
However, some form of auto-brightness might have still been activated, buried deep in a menu, or an image-processing feature that also dims the picture could have been running.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But a close reading of the filing encouraged certain inferences.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The city says residents are encouraged to report feral hog sightings, but says animal services is unable to trap or remove them.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Carmen Electra flashed a peace sign while rocking a multi-print maxi dress at the T-Mobile G1 Tone-Def After-Party in 2009.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
And his creativity and cleverness flashed on some really slick, eyes-in-the-back-of-his-head sequences.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On this day, volunteers drove flowers to a senior living center, where the act of kindness overwhelmed resident Carmela Kemper.—
Sharon Chin,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
That experience drove me into public service.—
Christian Mitchell,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sparked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparked. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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