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
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Recent Examples of sparks
CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
When a chance meeting sparks a connection, their bond deepens, and secrets and holiday pressures force them to face what truly matters.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Sweeney campaign sparks controversy The Sweeney campaign faced backlash after consumers accused the company of promoting eugenics due to the tagline and the actress’s blonde hair, blue eyes and white complexion.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Bandit, Bluey's father, has taken a higher-paying job in another city, and the impending change sparks a variety of emotions for Bluey, Bingo, Chili, and all the friends and neighbors.
—De Elizabeth, Parents, 3 Sep. 2025
Every year, at least one DWTS partnership sparks romance rumors, and sometimes those rumors become actual relationships.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 3 Sep. 2025
Such repurposing sparks interest in the original source material.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
What amazes me is how the same film sparks such different conversations, depending on the room.
—Eitan Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
Beyond clothing, Abrianna believes her size is what sparks so many misunderstandings.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
According to the filing, a sagging power line in Hemet, California, operated by Edison came into contact with a Frontier Communications messenger cable, which created sparks and ignited the vegetation below.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
State fire officials determined the fire started after a SoCal Edison power line came into contact with a Frontier communications messenger cable, creating an arc and causing sparks to fall and ignite the vegetation below.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2025
And that's thanks in no small part to the fact that Weatherly and de Pablo can still fire up the old sparks anytime they are required.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Lithium batteries can pose a fire hazard and are subject to overheating and creating sparks, especially if damaged.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Sep. 2025
That said, the intriguing synergy of Venus trine Saturn-Neptune retrograde is where sparks of inspiration meet discipline and structure.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2025
The plane, operating as flight DE3665 from Corfu to Düsseldorf, was carrying 273 passengers and eight crew members when sparks and flames were seen coming from its right engine minutes into the flight.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
In the first lawsuit, the Justice Department blamed the January 7 Eaton Fire on faulty SCE power infrastructure or sparks from that infrastructure, causing the burning of nearly 8,000 acres in Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County.
—CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
When a chance meeting sparks a connection, their bond deepens, and secrets and holiday pressures force them to face what truly matters.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Sweeney campaign sparks controversy The Sweeney campaign faced backlash after consumers accused the company of promoting eugenics due to the tagline and the actress’s blonde hair, blue eyes and white complexion.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Bandit, Bluey's father, has taken a higher-paying job in another city, and the impending change sparks a variety of emotions for Bluey, Bingo, Chili, and all the friends and neighbors.
—De Elizabeth, Parents, 3 Sep. 2025
Every year, at least one DWTS partnership sparks romance rumors, and sometimes those rumors become actual relationships.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 3 Sep. 2025
Such repurposing sparks interest in the original source material.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
What amazes me is how the same film sparks such different conversations, depending on the room.
—Eitan Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
Beyond clothing, Abrianna believes her size is what sparks so many misunderstandings.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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, 5 Sep. 2025
According to the filing, a sagging power line in Hemet, California, operated by Edison came into contact with a Frontier Communications messenger cable, which created sparks and ignited the vegetation below.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
State fire officials determined the fire started after a SoCal Edison power line came into contact with a Frontier communications messenger cable, creating an arc and causing sparks to fall and ignite the vegetation below.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2025
And that's thanks in no small part to the fact that Weatherly and de Pablo can still fire up the old sparks anytime they are required.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Lithium batteries can pose a fire hazard and are subject to overheating and creating sparks, especially if damaged.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Sep. 2025
That said, the intriguing synergy of Venus trine Saturn-Neptune retrograde is where sparks of inspiration meet discipline and structure.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2025
The plane, operating as flight DE3665 from Corfu to Düsseldorf, was carrying 273 passengers and eight crew members when sparks and flames were seen coming from its right engine minutes into the flight.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparks
Verb
-
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
-
The place sparkles, even at two-thirds completed, with reconstruction of the east side slated as the next phase.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The lights are programmed to change from yellow to red or green when the freeway traffic is going slower than 60 mph, which triggers the signals to control traffic flow entering the freeway.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
This suggests that swearing triggers a boost, which allows the body to perform better in a short-term physical task.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Criticism triggers defensiveness; defensiveness fuels contempt; contempt provokes stonewalling.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 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
-
The Amiron Zero are designed to be resistant to dust and splashes thanks to the IP54 rating.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
These processes created microscopic craters and splashes of molten rock on the asteroid's surface, according to the paper.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At the absolute highest energies, the Moon glows with a light all its own, powered by nuclear recoils, and irrespective of any light, or anything at all, emitted by the Sun.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Its Hungarian Parliament glows at twilight—mirrored in the river’s slow current—while layered history lingers in its bullet-scarred walls.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Libra season begins on the 22nd, spotlighting your communication zone, and Mars in Scorpio activates your home sector the very same day.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Breathwork also activates the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in mood and anxiety regulation.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
My hope is that Reunion encourages commissioners and production companies to create space for other deaf people to come forward and tell their stories.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The presence of citizen participation in legal decision-making encourages civic engagement, fosters public trust and reanimates the participatory ideals on which the American republic was founded.—
Richard Lorren Jolly,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There were glimmers of the magnificent past at the 2024 French Open against Iga Swiatek when Osaka won the second set 6-1 and was within a point of going 5-1 up in the decider.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Servillo is such a sly actor, and the director showcases his deadpan performance with such slow-build curiosity, that the film is always cueing us to read his mind, to see the glimmers of thought and soul behind the façade.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sparks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparks. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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