Synonyms of sparks

sparks 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spark

1

as in sparkles

to give off sparks

the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sparkles
• glows
• flashes
• shines
• burns
• scintillates
• flames
• blazes
• twinkles
• combusts
• lights (up)
• radiates
• flares (up)

2

as in triggers

to cause to function

interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain

Synonyms & Similar Words

• triggers
• activates
• drives
• fuels
• powers
• generates
• ignites
• moves
• starts
• provokes
• fires
• sets off
• actuates
• turns on
• charges
• cranks (up)
• runs
• pushes
• touches off
• electrifies
• stimulates
• launches
• energizes
• switches
• arouses
• releases
• excites
• trips
• discharges
• incites
• turns over
• reactivates
• accelerates
• recharges
• instigates
• kicks over
• catalyzes
• quickens
• speeds (up)
• stirs up
• jump-starts
• kick-starts
• vitalizes
• steps up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• kills
• cuts
• stops
• brakes
• arrests
• turns off
• cuts out
• shuts off
• sticks
• checks
• jams
• halts
• stalls
• cuts off
• slows
• deactivates
• suppresses
• draws up
• represses
• decelerates
• stunts

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

• provokes
• encourages
• stimulates
• stirs
• inspires
• arouses
• excites
• incites
• moves
• motivates
• piques
• motives
• instigates
• triggers
• ignites
• fires (up)
• induces
• drives
• impassions
• revs (up)
• kindles
• activates
• galvanizes
• inflames
• animates
• fans
• energizes
• builds a fire under
• angers
• keys (up)
• sets off
• quickens
• vitalizes
• foments
• bothers
• enrages
• whips (up)
• upsets
• raises
• ferments
• taunts
• pumps up
• teases
• gets
• jeers
• maddens
• annoys
• irritates
• abets
• aggravates
• exasperates
• vexes
• galls

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calms
• soothes
• subdues
• tranquilizes
• appeases
• placates
• pacifies
• mollifies

sparks

2 of 2

noun

plural of spark

as in splashes

a very small amount

not a spark of interest in the actress's memoirs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• splashes
• glimmers
• specks
• touches
• sprinklings
• hints
• little
• bits
• traces
• licks
• particles
• flecks
• shadows
• spatters
• rays
• dabs
• suspicions
• smacks
• streaks
• bites
• shreds
• smells
• nips
• slivers
• shades
• crumbs
• drops
• pinches
• handfuls
• scruples
• peanuts
• driblets
• dashes
• soupçons
• strains
• drams
• spots
• ounces
• snaps
• mites
• scintillas
• smidgens
• skoshes
• molecules
• aces
• parts
• atoms
• fragments
• drops in the bucket
• grains
• dots
• tastes
• motes
• scraps
• granules
• hoots
• splinters
• doses
• flakes
• vestiges
• syllables
• jots
• semblances
• smatterings
• patches
• nibbles
• shivers
• minima
• shards
• scatterings
• portions
• sections
• minims
• morsels
• chips
• clippings
• shavings
• flyspecks
• iotas
• modicums
• whits
• nubbins
• tatters
• parings
• tittles
• smatters
• smithereens
• shots

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loads
• masses
• quantities
• piles
• heaps
• lots
• mountains
• deals
• stacks
• bundles
• barrels
• buckets
• bushels
• reams
• rafts
• pecks
• messes
• gobs
• oodles
• abundances
• scads
• lashings
• wads
• fistfuls
• boatloads
• much
• wealths
• volumes
• profusions
• excesses
• overflows
• surpluses
• potfuls
• plenties
• passels
• embarrassments
• bonanzas
• chunks
• overages
• superfluities
• slabs
• overmuch
• lumps
• hunks
• overkills
• oversupplies
• overabundances
• superabundances
• surfeits

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sparks

Verb

The illusion of molten steel was basically water and mineral oil mixed with a little powdered sugar; creative lighting and heaters placed below the cameras—plus a few CGI sparks in the background—did the rest. — ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

She's tasked with completing the mercurial master's unfinished works, though Lori and Julian's relationship sparks needed connection and redemption for each. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

But as well as practical reasons, there are emotional ones, with Edinburgh offering a history and charm that sparks creativity. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

But before that fire sparks in our beloved foothills, Coloradans can work to ensure parts of the forests survive, providing for faster recovery and protecting the complex watershed that more than half a million households rely on for drinking water. — Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2026

While the Assembly proposal would eliminate bonuses for all a company’s top executives in a year in which its equipment sparks a wildfire, the Senate’s plan only mentions CEOs. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026

The proposal would also require utility CEOs to forfeit bonuses if their company sparks a wildfire resulting in more than $1 billion worth of damage. — Sophie Austin, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Their move back from the United States sparks questions about security, their formal role — and whether the couple could overshadow the official royal family. — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2026

But what really sparks for me is the connection with the employees and the connection with the customers. — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 18 Aug. 2026

Noun

The area has been hit by winds that can gust up to 35 miles per hour over the past few days, meaning sparks have been able to spread. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2026

Hayden Panettiere's death sparks renewed backlash against Neutrogena Do boycotts work? — Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

As the plane sped down the runway, air traffic controllers and a witness on the ground noticed sparks coming from near its wheels. — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026

This bold decision has already yielded immediate offensive sparks, demonstrating that strategic flexibility can lead to unexpected and positive results for the team. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Smith was operating equipment, reportedly a chainsaw, that did not comply with fire prevention requirements and was capable of producing sparks, according to Cal Fire. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026

He was arrested on suspicion of recklessly causing a fire, after operating equipment capable of producing sparks near wildland fuels. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Any small scraps left behind after cleaning can also cause sparks during cooking. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 July 2026

Fires can be caused by sparks from agricultural machinery, lightning strikes, an errant cigarette or even intentional arson. — ABC News, 24 July 2026