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
As such, the government’s decision to block 26 social media platforms sparked immediate concern among the Nepalese public.
—
Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
The fire is assumed to have been sparked by lightning.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The theft sparked a manhunt by the drug dealers who had tasked him with moving the drugs.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Was there a particular moment, memory, or mood that sparked the first shoe design?
—Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The space complements the retailer’s unique assortment of apparel and accessories, which for the anniversary will be further enriched by a selection of Gigli’s archival pieces, in a nod to Zambeletti’s roots and homage to the designer that sparked her fashion journey.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
Speculation around Mallinson sparked when X users wrongly matched his photos to footage of a man who was initially apprehended by police at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
The couple first sparked dating rumors in May 2023, and later confirmed their engagement in November 2024.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
In California’s strawberry fields, an ICE raid sparked widespread panic and disruption among farmworker communities.
—David Rodriguez Muñoz, Freep.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
The fire is assumed to have been sparked by lightning.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The theft sparked a manhunt by the drug dealers who had tasked him with moving the drugs.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Was there a particular moment, memory, or mood that sparked the first shoe design?
—Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The space complements the retailer’s unique assortment of apparel and accessories, which for the anniversary will be further enriched by a selection of Gigli’s archival pieces, in a nod to Zambeletti’s roots and homage to the designer that sparked her fashion journey.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
Speculation around Mallinson sparked when X users wrongly matched his photos to footage of a man who was initially apprehended by police at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
The couple first sparked dating rumors in May 2023, and later confirmed their engagement in November 2024.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
In California’s strawberry fields, an ICE raid sparked widespread panic and disruption among farmworker communities.
—David Rodriguez Muñoz, Freep.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparked
Verb
-
High walls ran between the dusty road and the hillside, and on the other side the lake sparkled and lapped.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The pop icon and her eldest child sparkled in black and silver style at The Lion King Hollywood premiere in July 2019.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The fallout from Singapore's money-laundering scandal and high-profile crypto failures like Three Arrows Capital and FTX triggered an aggressive compliance push in 2024, according to Iris Xu, founder of corporate services firm Jenga, whose clients are wealthy mainland Chinese in Singapore.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
-
That contract, reached after the union leveraged a strike threat in 2024, included coverage of PBS Kids’ animation for the first time and triggered union representation for writers on shows like Molly of Denali and Work It Out Wombats.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In practice, that could mean a withdrawal of political cover for Israel's ongoing invasion of Gaza, which has provoked outrage among European and Arab nations as famine conditions spread.—
Gram Slattery,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The moves provoked legal challenges over First Amendment rights.—
Dan Gooding
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The music thumped away, though at reduced volume, the bats performed their acrobatics over the pool, the hash pipe glowed, people began to yawn.—
T. Coraghessan Boyle,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Some cells glowed brightly due to high activity, others dimmed with weaker expression, while some switched off entirely.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By that point though, United had activated on signing Senne Lammens.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The gas is activated by the ultraviolet rays of the sun, making the tail glow in much the same way that black light causes phosphorescent paint to light up.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In his acceptance speech, Cooper revealed only started drama classes a couple of years ago and encouraged those watching to step out of their comfort zones.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
-
In recent years, as American moms have been enthusiastically encouraged to breastfeed, many experts have emphasized that making sure infants are fed, period, should be parents’ highest priority.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At one point, a running number tied to Boys and Girls Clubs of America flashed on the screen, starting at $100,000.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Ethan Nwaneri hit the first, which was blocked, and then Zubimendi flashed in the second.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Isn’t the same belief what drove Laura to speak to them?—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Judge drove a full-count splitter from Casey Mize to right-center field, giving New York a 1-0 lead.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sparked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparked. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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