Synonyms of sparked

sparked

verb

past tense of spark

1

as in sparkled

to give off sparks

the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sparkled
• glowed
• flashed
• shone
• burned
• blazed
• scintillated
• twinkled
• lit (up)
• flamed
• radiated
• flared (up)
• combusted

2

as in triggered

to cause to function

interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain

Synonyms & Similar Words

• triggered
• activated
• drove
• generated
• fueled
• moved
• started
• ignited
• powered
• provoked
• set off
• turned on
• charged
• pushed
• ran
• actuated
• touched off
• cranked (up)
• fired
• electrified
• launched
• stimulated
• released
• switched
• energized
• aroused
• incited
• turned over
• instigated
• reactivated
• catalyzed
• excited
• accelerated
• discharged
• tripped
• kick-started
• jump-started
• quickened
• kicked over
• recharged
• stirred up
• stepped up
• sped (up)
• vitalized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• killed
• cut
• stopped
• shut off
• cut out
• turned off
• halted
• arrested
• checked
• stuck
• stalled
• cut off
• jammed
• drew up
• slowed
• suppressed
• deactivated
• stunted
• repressed
• braked
• decelerated

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

• provoked
• encouraged
• stimulated
• stirred
• inspired
• aroused
• incited
• moved
• instigated
• triggered
• piqued
• excited
• motivated
• impassioned
• ignited
• induced
• drove
• fired (up)
• revved (up)
• kindled
• fanned
• motived
• angered
• galvanized
• activated
• built a fire under
• inflamed
• fomented
• quickened
• energized
• animated
• set off
• enraged
• bothered
• keyed (up)
• upset
• vitalized
• raised
• whipped (up)
• abetted
• pumped up
• teased
• maddened
• aggravated
• got
• taunted
• fermented
• annoyed
• jeered
• irritated
• exasperated
• vexed
• galled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calmed
• subdued
• soothed
• appeased
• placated
• pacified
• mollified
• tranquilized

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sparked

In the Boryspil district, a fire sparked by a strike partially destroyed a nine-story residential building. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

Pizza has even sparked nationwide debates about which city has the best pie, with notable contenders being Chicago-style pizza and thin-crust New York pizza. — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

The drastic change also sparked seven Miami-Dade municipalities to band together against it. — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

The pulling of two men alive from a hydropower tunnel deep inside the Nepal Himalaya nine days after the disaster has sparked hope in Nepal. — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

In the days since, the incident has sparked another round of reckoning with safety for LGBTQ people in Sacramento’s Lavender Heights neighborhood, which has seen a number of violent incidents in recent years. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Ratajkowski and Gavras first sparked romance rumors in November 2025, when they were spotted out together in New York City, and were photographed with his arm around her and kissing multiple times. — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Michelle and the Anyone but You actor first sparked dating rumors last November, when a patron at a bar in Powell’s hometown of Austin, Texas, posted a TikTok of the two looking flirty while dancing together. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026

The case has also sparked deep public divisions over her culpability and the issues around maternal mental health after childbirth. — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026