1
as in sparkling
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 triggering
to cause to function
interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provoking
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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Recent Examples of sparking
Described by police as a gang rape, the case has added fuel to outrage in a nation where reports of violence against women have surged in recent months, sparking nationwide protests and a flurry of digital activism.
—
Eléonore Hughes, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Local governments in Taiwan and South Korea reported success in sparking a birthrate revival.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
It’s been a week since the United States and Israel launched their war with Iran, sparking a wider conflict across the Middle East that the United Nations warns could spiral out of control.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
Emily Henry is a 35-year-old romance writer who’s penned six best-selling adult romance novels over the past five years, selling over 10 million copies worldwide and sparking multiple Hollywood deals.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2026
That assassinates Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking retaliatory attacks by Iran across the Middle East.
—Jill Lawrence, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026
The case quickly spread through the local school and surrounding community, sparking speculation about what might have happened.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 6 Mar. 2026
These large-scale projects require vast amounts of land, power, and water, sparking community concerns about environmental impact and utility costs.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Together, the grimy pair start riding the rails across the country, watching movies starring Frank’s favorite actor, Ronnie Reed (Jake Gyllenhaal), and somehow sparking a feminist plot to overthrow the kinds of mean gangsters who killed Ida in the first place.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Eléonore Hughes, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Local governments in Taiwan and South Korea reported success in sparking a birthrate revival.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
It’s been a week since the United States and Israel launched their war with Iran, sparking a wider conflict across the Middle East that the United Nations warns could spiral out of control.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
Emily Henry is a 35-year-old romance writer who’s penned six best-selling adult romance novels over the past five years, selling over 10 million copies worldwide and sparking multiple Hollywood deals.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2026
That assassinates Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking retaliatory attacks by Iran across the Middle East.
—Jill Lawrence, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026
The case quickly spread through the local school and surrounding community, sparking speculation about what might have happened.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 6 Mar. 2026
These large-scale projects require vast amounts of land, power, and water, sparking community concerns about environmental impact and utility costs.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Together, the grimy pair start riding the rails across the country, watching movies starring Frank’s favorite actor, Ronnie Reed (Jake Gyllenhaal), and somehow sparking a feminist plot to overthrow the kinds of mean gangsters who killed Ida in the first place.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparking
Verb
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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
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The building’s shiny, dark metal sheathing might have appeared sinister in any other environment, but not here, set against the sparkling white.—
Cree LeFavour,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The gruesome discovery would eventually lead authorities to a third woman, in her 80s, killed a few towns over, triggering a manhunt across several states and prompting a two-day closure of schools in Wayne County.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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Skiing safely through avalanche terrain and planning ahead to avoid triggering a slide is part of this courtesy, according to the advocacy group.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When not in the newsroom, Munis is often out on the streets with his camera, capturing the perfect portrait or settling in to watch a thought-provoking film.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
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While teasing Season 2 and what’s to come, the series’ creators tout the advantages the audio format offers for thought-provoking science fiction.—
Jordaan Ashley,
Variety,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The driver switches the radio silent, the world glowing around them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The reports from the back fields were immediately glowing.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Stepping into a room that hot triggers an immediate stress reaction, activating the sympathetic arm of the nervous system, the fight-or-flight response.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
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Many started online by going to the same shock site, and activating their own profile.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In fact, the director was egging me on, encouraging me to go further with the hunching and muttering.—
Andrew Martin,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
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Benevolent Venus complements rule-minded Saturn in your 11th House of Friendship, encouraging clear agreements with your teams and friends.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While driving - Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Mar. 2026
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Aiden Robbins took the most substantial swing of the night in that inning, driving a two-run, back-side home run to right field.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The result is essentially an arbitrary purity test that tightens capital access necessary for creating American jobs and stimulating local economies.—
Krish O'Mara Vignarajah,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Mar. 2026
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The Form Insoles combine mechanical arch support with a neuro-stimulating texture, which is proven to reduce foot fatigue and arch pain by increasing overall foot awareness and foot posture.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sparking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparking. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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