1
as in to sparkle
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 to trigger
to cause to function
interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to provoke
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 glimmer
a very small amount
not a spark of interest in the actress's memoirs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spark
Karu F Daniels, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
The destruction of unsold inventory is an open secret in fashion, even though exposures of the practice inevitably spark public outrage.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2026
The sophomore forward has been a big spark for the Mighty Macs, including Thursday’s 65-55 win over Providence in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals at Loyola in Wilmette.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spark
Verb
Paul’s comments quickly sparked backlash online, including a public response from his brother, social media influencer Logan Paul.
—Karu F Daniels, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
The destruction of unsold inventory is an open secret in fashion, even though exposures of the practice inevitably spark public outrage.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
Notes of ripe, fresh mangoes, fragrant mandarins, and blood oranges, and undertones of lemon leaf spark energy and invigoration.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2026
The sophomore forward has been a big spark for the Mighty Macs, including Thursday’s 65-55 win over Providence in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals at Loyola in Wilmette.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spark
Verb
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From the bridge of their charter boat High Class Hooker, Susanna Pope and her husband can look out at the sparkling 65-degree saltwater off Key West, Florida, and envision customers fishing for marlin, wahoo and mahi mahi.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
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The hand in motion, the fluttering scarf, the sparkling outfit.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Held for weeks with no contact The protests began in late December, triggered by anger over spiraling prices, and quickly spread across the country.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
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The protests began in late December, triggered by anger over spiraling prices, and quickly spread across the country.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
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.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
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The International Shark Attack File, run by the Florida Museum of Natural History, classifies the attacks as provoked or unprovoked based on whether a human initiated the contact.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The novel is famously austere, with mere glimmers of physical intimacy.—
Emily Zemler,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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Some believe the ouster of strongman leader Nicolás Maduro offers a glimmer of hope for rebuilding institutions and guaranteeing citizens’ rights.—
CNN 9 hr ago,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That leads to high temperatures, which create a glowing protostar due to the rapid (kinetic) motion of the internal gas particles, and eventually, after a few tens of millions of years, the core temperatures rise high enough (above 4 million K or so) that nuclear fusion of hydrogen begins.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
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Now imagine the same with some of those teary eyes angled down toward glowing screens, while others frame the bride with their phones.—
Nikita Khanna,
Vogue,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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She was accused on Monday of having accidentally activated a website for a future campaign to lead the Labour Party.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
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The consultancy has a role in advising, managing, activating and measuring more than $5 billion in client partnerships across sports, entertainment, gaming and corporate social responsibility.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Your 7th House of Partnership steadies as boundary-setting Saturn arrives, encouraging clear agreements across your closest bonds so your diplomatic style can bring fairness without overgiving.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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The evening was more about the vibe; Gelman encourages all guests to dress up in fancy cocktail attire.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The current reality of AI and white-collar work However, as AI experts hypothesize about when, and if, AI will disrupt white-collar work, the technology thus far has made only a small splash in professional services.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
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When reheating, add a splash of milk or water and stir well to restore its creamy texture.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spark. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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