1
as in sparkles
to give off sparks
the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Natalie Melzer, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
Let this moment be what finally sparks the revolution that will be televised, none of it was worth it.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 20 May 2026
The World Health Organization has declared an international public health emergency as a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa sparks concern that the deadly virus could spread beyond the region — including into the United States.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Related Stories On her 50th birthday, Carmen follows her estranged daughter to a feminist protest, where a rock to the head sparks an unexpected awakening.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 18 May 2026
But Guerrero’s inconsistent slug sparks the same conversation each spring.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Iran denies ever withdrawing from the Venice Biennale, and the Somalia Pavilion sparks controversy.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026
No Mow May sparks conversations about bee conservation.
—Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
Maybe Sunday’s momentous hit will be the one that sparks him.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
The footage finds João, 36, revealing his true feelings to Daisy, 38, while going out for a drink — and the sparks are certainly there.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Like sparks igniting, the result is a piece that feels alive with energy rather than a dowdy relic of the past.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
As a friendly reminder, the weather service urged residents to dispose of cigarettes properly, avoid charcoal grills and limit outdoor activities that may create flames or sparks.
—Christian Cervantes, AZCentral.com, 17 May 2026
Even sparks or embers carried by the wind can ignite nearby leaves or grass, triggering a fire that spreads rapidly.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 May 2026
The peas themselves are piled like cabochons over a thin pastry shell, dressed in a tart citrus vinaigrette and studded with slivers of pickled shallots that deliver bracing little sparks of brine against the crisp sweetness of the legumes.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 10 May 2026
With the Sun in your 3rd House sextiling Jupiter in your 5th House of Creativity, conversations, writing, and creative sparks have unusual momentum.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
There was lots of sparks that are happening.
—Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Verb
Footage showing kneeling detainees sparks outrage from Israel’s foreign minister, rights advocates and governments in Italy, Turkey and Greece, who accuse Israel of abuse, humiliation and damaging its international standing.
—Natalie Melzer, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
Let this moment be what finally sparks the revolution that will be televised, none of it was worth it.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 20 May 2026
The World Health Organization has declared an international public health emergency as a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa sparks concern that the deadly virus could spread beyond the region — including into the United States.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Related Stories On her 50th birthday, Carmen follows her estranged daughter to a feminist protest, where a rock to the head sparks an unexpected awakening.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 18 May 2026
But Guerrero’s inconsistent slug sparks the same conversation each spring.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Iran denies ever withdrawing from the Venice Biennale, and the Somalia Pavilion sparks controversy.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026
No Mow May sparks conversations about bee conservation.
—Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
Maybe Sunday’s momentous hit will be the one that sparks him.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
Noun
There’s deep, poetic honor in the grueling fight to rebuild a standard; to find the creative sparks and opportunism required to surprise the world again.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
The footage finds João, 36, revealing his true feelings to Daisy, 38, while going out for a drink — and the sparks are certainly there.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Like sparks igniting, the result is a piece that feels alive with energy rather than a dowdy relic of the past.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
As a friendly reminder, the weather service urged residents to dispose of cigarettes properly, avoid charcoal grills and limit outdoor activities that may create flames or sparks.
—Christian Cervantes, AZCentral.com, 17 May 2026
Even sparks or embers carried by the wind can ignite nearby leaves or grass, triggering a fire that spreads rapidly.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 May 2026
The peas themselves are piled like cabochons over a thin pastry shell, dressed in a tart citrus vinaigrette and studded with slivers of pickled shallots that deliver bracing little sparks of brine against the crisp sweetness of the legumes.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 10 May 2026
With the Sun in your 3rd House sextiling Jupiter in your 5th House of Creativity, conversations, writing, and creative sparks have unusual momentum.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
There was lots of sparks that are happening.
—Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparks
Verb
-
San Diego theater veteran Andréa Agosto sparkles as the kind but determined Aziza.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
-
Her silver nail polish—reminiscent of the shade worn by Lou Reed (from one New York legend to another) in footage shown during Todd Haynes’s documentary The Velvet Underground—sparkles as Gaga pounds the keys of her piano throughout the film.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Continue reading … COPY AND PASTE — New York Magazine columnist accused of plagiarism by fellow reporters, triggers internal review.—
,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
When an agent triggers a bad action, ownership often dissolves into a fog of prompts, product decisions and access policies.—
Oleg Malii,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Likewise, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently warned that the bond market will ultimately prove to be the factor that provokes some action from DC when investors begin to demand higher premiums to continue buying debt.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
-
But the question of what is true or not is futile, even if Calle deliberately provokes this curiosity.—
Elisa Wouk Almino
Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The show combines nontraditional percussion, marshmallows, paint splashes, plumbing, black lights and streaming streamers.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
-
You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
Verb
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Below, sits Altair, while Deneb glows to the left, representing the tail of the great swan in the constellation Cygnus.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
11 May 2026
-
It can be used as a nightlight, glows in seven colors and features a selection of soothing soundscapes.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Support for National and International Brazilian Film Festivals Through strategic sponsorships, Embratur funds and activates film festivals in Brazil and abroad, using cinema as a bridge between audiovisual storytelling and tourism.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
18 May 2026
-
Oatmeal, especially when soaked or fermented before cooking, activates natural enzymes that help break down difficult-to-digest compounds.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The sleek black straps instantly make the Birkenstock Arizona Softbed Birk-flo Sandals feel a little more sleek, while the roomy design encourages a more natural stride during long sightseeing days.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2026
-
The final order encourages the Treasury to consider providing retrospective 280E relief for prior tax years in which companies operated under state medical licenses.—
Javier Hasse,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
While math achievement saw a rebound after the pandemic, reading continued to decline through 2024, with 2025 offering glimmers of a turnaround, the report said.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
-
The Melissa is a slightly wider shape for more coverage and balance on longer or wider faces, with a chunky gold hinge that glimmers in the sun.—
Kelsey Legg,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sparks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparks. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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