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,
2 Mar. 2026
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Scrubsnyc are a pair of internet trolls who livestream videos of themselves appearing to harass everyday New Yorkers, provoking outrage, and often finding themselves being thrown out of apartment buildings, bodegas and other establishments.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As a result, a ring of fire phenomenon can be seen, as the sun’s outer edge appears like a glowing circle around the moon.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
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Pilots can see bad weather lurking in the distance hours before takeoff, glowing like a wraith on their digital maps.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 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 9 Mar. 2026.
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