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

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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

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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 sparked Their study, which pointed to widespread same-sex pairing in nature, sparked a cultural debate across the country when it was published in Science magazine in 1977. — Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026 The 29-year-old scored the last-minute winner at the Los Angeles Stadium against South Africa in the round of 32 that sparked wild celebrations. — Tom Burrows, New York Times, 12 July 2026 When a massive Sonoma Coast residential development pitch sparked fears that beach access would be lost. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026 Those strikes had been sparked by Iran attacking three ships in the strait earlier this week. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 11 July 2026 The two acts of protest sparked a barrage of objects thrown at him by fans from the stands. — ABC News, 11 July 2026 That has angered Tehran and sparked the attacks in the strait. — Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026 Amber Rudd, Britain’s home secretary at the time, said the poisonings sparked troubling questions. — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 11 July 2026 Officials in New Jersey sparked mixed reactions after voting to pave the way for the redevelopment of a former iconic amusement park. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparked
  1. sparkled
  2. triggered
  3. provoked
  4. glowed
  5. activated
  6. encouraged
  7. flashed
  8. drove
Verb
  • The lithe Pettet then sparkled as Mata Bond, the product of a love affair between Niven’s 007 and the spy Mata Hari, in the Bond spoof Casino Royale (1967).
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2026
  • Didier Deschamps’ side have looked superb at this tournament and Mbappe has sparkled up front with seven goals in five matches.
    — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of sparkled
Verb
  • Cataplexy is common in people with Type 1 narcolepsy and can be triggered by strong emotions such as laughter, excitement, surprise or anger.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains in southeastern Bangladesh killed several Rohingya refugees, including five children.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of triggered
Verb
  • Montgomery’s death provoked an outpouring of heartfelt support.
    — Sarah M.S. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • What the 1998 demolition unexpectedly uncovered roiled Miami and provoked a worldwide outcry — a mysterious set of 24 holes carved into the limestone bedrock in a perfect circle, 38 feet in diameter.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Definition of provoked
Verb
  • Hathaway glowed in an embellished Marc by Marc Jacobs mini dress and Miu Miu platform heels, per the HuffPost.
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
  • With a big grin on his face, visible even through his spacesuit helmet, Williams raised his arms in a classic Muscle Beach pose as planet Earth glowed hundreds of miles beneath him.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of glowed
Verb
  • If activated, battery life will be drastically reduced to only a couple of days because the dog's location will refresh every 10 to 15 seconds.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 July 2026
  • According to the authority, Pakistan’s military and civilian agencies activated the Rescue Coordination Center and launched search-and-rescue operations at sea shortly after the aircraft went missing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of activated
Verb
  • Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
  • Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of encouraged
Verb
  • After the video assistant referee urged him to watch a replay, however, Claus walked away from the monitor and flashed the red card at Balogun, a judgment many immediately deemed overly harsh.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • East2West footage showed the overnight barrage from inside Kyiv, including a baby sleeping as explosions flashed outside an open window and smoke from an earlier strike rose nearby.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of flashed
Verb
  • In April, in a four-game series against the New York Yankees, Trout hit five home runs and drove in nine runs.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Liberal return policies surged during the pandemic, with free return windows that can extend to as much as six months, as lockdown-weary shoppers drove an e-commerce boom.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 9 July 2026
Definition of drove

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Cite this Entry

“Sparked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparked. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sparked for Spanish Speakers

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