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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sparking
The big market gains have contributed to the perception of a lack of equity and fairness in the economy, sparking outrage among many middle- and low-income Americans.
—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Keyser was ejected from Love Island on June 25, after entering the season as a Casa Amor bombshell and sparking a connection with season 8 Islander Zach Georgiou.
—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 June 2026
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are rumored to tie the knot soon, sparking widespread speculation about who will attend what could be one of the biggest weddings of the year.
—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The company’s bitcoin transactions have shifted broader views of the crypto market, including its first bitcoin sale in years late last month, sparking a selloff that erased the cryptocurrency’s record-setting surge.
—
Ty Roush,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
The government has not launched any more major operations for fear of sparking further violence, with local experts explaining that cartels favour a smooth World Cup due to their financial interests, which run deeply across Mexico’s major cities.
—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Abrams, 26, and Mescal, 30, have been dating for about two years, first sparking romance rumors after they were spotted together in London in June 2024.
—
Lily Brown,
PEOPLE,
25 June 2026
McGinn created two chances early in the second half, sparking one with a takeaway at midfield before being taken down by another controversial El Aynaoui challenge.
—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
20 June 2026
Good died at the the scene from gunshot wounds to her head, sparking a series of protests in the Twin Cities.
—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2026
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Keyser was ejected from Love Island on June 25, after entering the season as a Casa Amor bombshell and sparking a connection with season 8 Islander Zach Georgiou.
—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 June 2026
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are rumored to tie the knot soon, sparking widespread speculation about who will attend what could be one of the biggest weddings of the year.
—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The company’s bitcoin transactions have shifted broader views of the crypto market, including its first bitcoin sale in years late last month, sparking a selloff that erased the cryptocurrency’s record-setting surge.
—
Ty Roush,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
The government has not launched any more major operations for fear of sparking further violence, with local experts explaining that cartels favour a smooth World Cup due to their financial interests, which run deeply across Mexico’s major cities.
—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Abrams, 26, and Mescal, 30, have been dating for about two years, first sparking romance rumors after they were spotted together in London in June 2024.
—
Lily Brown,
PEOPLE,
25 June 2026
McGinn created two chances early in the second half, sparking one with a takeaway at midfield before being taken down by another controversial El Aynaoui challenge.
—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
20 June 2026
Good died at the the scene from gunshot wounds to her head, sparking a series of protests in the Twin Cities.
—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparking
Verb
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Watch On Those of a certain age might recall the first spectacular trailers opening with images of a 23rd-century domed city sparkling with water features and bright white buildings connected by transparent transportation tubes filled with bullet-like people pods.
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From sparkling canned drinks to wine and beer and specialty fruit juices, the drink selection at your local Trader Joe's includes a vast array of ways to quench your thirst, especially during the warmer months.
Verb
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Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s central and coastal regions on Wednesday just 39 seconds apart, triggering scenes of panic in Caracas and other cities as preliminary reports of structural damage and injuries began to emerge.
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Powell said China has such operations lined up and planned well in advance and waits for such triggering events.
Verb
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Chris Young’s Beyond Earth column explores the intersection of space technology and policy, providing thought-provoking commentary on the latest advancements and regulatory developments in the sector.
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Experts don’t fully agree on how helpful a low-histamine diet—which limits histamine-provoking foods—is for systemic mastocytosis.
Verb
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Aemond, without his eyepatch and his artificial eye glowing eerily, does find satisfaction.
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The best antiaging devices have the latest technology to give you glowing, radiant skin at home.
Verb
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But in the kitchen, things go awry again when some sauce boils over onto a burner, activating a safety suppression feature that automatically shuts down the appliance for a half-hour.
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More time is devoted to setting up the dramatic situation than to activating it.
Verb
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The new searchable databases work against those calls, encouraging Germans to look more closely at their own families’ association with Nazism and prompting fresh reflections on how ordinary citizens came to normalize extremism.
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Passionate Mars in your 11th House of Friends sextiles Jupiter in your 1st House of Identity, encouraging brave outreach that feels warm and realistic.
Verb
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Also boosting demand and driving ticket prices for Saturday’s game is the fact that 41-year-old superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 669 million Instagram followers, is captain of the Portuguese team and has said this World Cup will be his last, making each appearance a high-profile event.
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Tire pressure sensors are vital to a vehicle’s health, especially when driving on pothole and junk-laden Atlanta streets.
Verb
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Red light is mitochondrially stimulating, so late-night use can disrupt sleep.
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Performance benefits often persist even in habitual users, even if the stimulating feel-good buzz fades.
Cite this Entry
“Sparking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparking. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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