1
as in sparkles
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 triggers
to cause to function
interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provokes
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
as in splashes
a very small amount
not a spark of interest in the actress's memoirs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sparks
Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Her choice challenges the rules of her world and sparks a rebellion that paves the way for a new way of life.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … POLITICS POINTING FINGERS – Federal government shutdown sparks blame game in crucial race for governor.
—FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Each card poses a question that sparks curiosity, creativity, or self-reflection, encouraging players to share stories and ideas while getting to know each other better.
—Emily Glover, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
While pregnancy at any age sparks a host of rapid breast changes that may temporarily up your cancer risk in the few years immediately following, facing those fluctuations at age 35-plus—when your baseline susceptibility is higher simply because of age—just further raises that risk.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 1 Oct. 2025
This approach sparks a heated debate about proper justice, leading to the revelation of other secret desires between the two spies.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Here, this Godot finally sparks into its fullest life.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Dallas shooting sparks broader concerns over political violence The deadly shooting at the Dallas ICE facility has reignited national conversations about political violence, with some drawing parallels to the killing of Charlie Kirk and other recent high-profile attacks.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Chiara Eisner, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Needless to say, sparks, like the birds themselves, fly.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Continue reading … VACANT SEAT – City councilmember resigns after vile comment made to Trump supporter sparks backlash.
—FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Some collaborations came from years of chemistry, others were brand new sparks.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Behind these short-term sparks are also deeper currents.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
The ball smashes into the floodlights, and Hobbs sets off on his victory trot, in slow motion, with sparks cascading behind him like fireworks.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
There, sparks begin to fly, so Belly invites Conrad to come to her birthday dinner that evening.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
The larger conversation about caring for capybaras sparks some legal questions about the exotic animal.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Her choice challenges the rules of her world and sparks a rebellion that paves the way for a new way of life.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … POLITICS POINTING FINGERS – Federal government shutdown sparks blame game in crucial race for governor.
—FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Each card poses a question that sparks curiosity, creativity, or self-reflection, encouraging players to share stories and ideas while getting to know each other better.
—Emily Glover, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
While pregnancy at any age sparks a host of rapid breast changes that may temporarily up your cancer risk in the few years immediately following, facing those fluctuations at age 35-plus—when your baseline susceptibility is higher simply because of age—just further raises that risk.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 1 Oct. 2025
This approach sparks a heated debate about proper justice, leading to the revelation of other secret desires between the two spies.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Here, this Godot finally sparks into its fullest life.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Dallas shooting sparks broader concerns over political violence The deadly shooting at the Dallas ICE facility has reignited national conversations about political violence, with some drawing parallels to the killing of Charlie Kirk and other recent high-profile attacks.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
The electrical equipment had sprayed sparks on the ground, Ware said, which started the fire.
—Chiara Eisner, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Needless to say, sparks, like the birds themselves, fly.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Continue reading … VACANT SEAT – City councilmember resigns after vile comment made to Trump supporter sparks backlash.
—FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Some collaborations came from years of chemistry, others were brand new sparks.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Behind these short-term sparks are also deeper currents.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
The ball smashes into the floodlights, and Hobbs sets off on his victory trot, in slow motion, with sparks cascading behind him like fireworks.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
There, sparks begin to fly, so Belly invites Conrad to come to her birthday dinner that evening.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparks
Verb
-
But even outside festival season, the city sparkles.—
Jeryl Brunner,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The novel sparkles with Sosa’s signature wit and sense of humor; the banter between Javi and Mari is deliciously funny, bursting with laugh-out-loud moments on seemingly every other page.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
When executed properly, the process triggers endless reactions to make energy for electricity.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
-
When Hernán helps Julia and her young daughter, Maribel, navigate treacherous borderlands, their desperate journey triggers the wrath of a ruthless trafficking syndicate.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Every action provokes a reaction.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
After a sleepy start to the second half at Old Trafford, the arrival of Benjamin Sesko, and the relocation of Cunha into a deeper position, provokes a fresh wave of interest.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Get into the habit of cleaning up splashes and spilled liquids promptly to prevent them from absorbing into the surface, and avoid drenching the floor with excessive amounts of water when cleaning.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Sep. 2025
-
The water-resistant outer material guards your essentials against splashes, while elastic straps and multiple pockets help keep your bottles upright.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sitting at its closest point to Earth, Luna swells a little larger and glows a little louder, reminding us who the real main character is.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Despite its nocturnal state, the alien sphere still glows with auroras brighter than the Earth’s northern lights.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Why This Recall Is Being Issued The pads were designed to provide a cooling effect for children, with a cooling layer that activates when a child sits down.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
29 Sep. 2025
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Group dynamics may trigger deep emotional wounds when the Sagittarius moon activates Venus.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Avoid over feeding plants, which encourages foliage to grow at the expense of blooms.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Guadagnino encourages our doubts, shooting Maggie in exaggerated horror-movie closeups set to the doomy bass notes and shrieking winds of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s score.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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During a season when even the most successful night of the year is marred by a devastating injury to the team’s best player, there are still glimmers of hope for the Dolphins.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
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Baker wisely doesn’t attempt to write entirely in Austen’s wry style, but glimmers do peek through.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sparks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparks. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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