sparked

past tense of spark
1
as in sparkled
to give off sparks the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sparked Officials in New Jersey sparked mixed reactions after voting to pave the way for the redevelopment of a former iconic amusement park. Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 The feat sparked scenes of jubilation in Doha, which our colleague Matias Grez was lucky enough to experience. Ben Church, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 Portugal somehow held on, and Goncalo Ramos’ 94th-minute header, with Ronaldo substituted, sparked delirium after a delightful Rafael Leao cross. Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Oman has said that any agreement will comply with international law, although the prospect of a financial system on a waterway that typically handles around 20% of the world's oil has sparked alarm. Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 4 July 2026 This data has sparked differing views on its impact on bitcoin. Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 Matty Healy Swift and Healy sparked romance rumors in May 2023 after the two were spotted together holding hands with their frequent music collaborator Jack Antonoff in New York City. Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 3 July 2026 Low-intensity fires regularly occurred in California before the 1850s Gold Rush, sparked by lightning strikes or burning by Native American tribes. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 3 July 2026 The Alexander Mountain Fire sparked west of Loveland on July 29, 2024. Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparked
Verb
  • For Gomez's 2025 wedding, Swift sparkled in a tea-length, 1950s-style Oscar dress embellished with beige sequins and petite florals.
    Morgan Evans, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • As for accessories, Minetree sparkled in a diamond necklace, ring and earrings courtesy of Bulgari.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • These episodes have been triggered by intense heat domes — stubborn areas of high pressure that lock hot air in place — and are clearly supercharged by global warming, experts say.
    Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • Throughout the game, seeing green shirts on the large screen triggered cheers through the crowd, while boos came up when yellow kits were displayed.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Montgomery’s death provoked an outpouring of heartfelt support.
    Sarah M.S. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • What the 1998 demolition unexpectedly uncovered roiled Miami and provoked a worldwide outcry — a mysterious set of 24 holes carved into the limestone bedrock in a perfect circle, 38 feet in diameter.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Instead of captivating burst of fireworks on display, the bridge glowed with hues of greens, yellows, reds and more.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Gomez wore her brunette hair in a chic updo and glowed with rosy blush and a smokey eye.
    Michael Nied, InStyle, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • If that goes well, he could be activated during the final series before the All-Star break.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 1 July 2026
  • It's also activated its voluntary load reduction program and is asking large commercial and industrial customers to cut their electricity use.
    Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Customers are encouraged to check online to confirm hours for their nearest store.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Businesses can also partner with the nonprofit, while current and retired officers in need are encouraged to reach out directly for help.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • After the video assistant referee urged him to watch a replay, however, Claus walked away from the monitor and flashed the red card at Balogun, a judgment many immediately deemed overly harsh.
    Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • East2West footage showed the overnight barrage from inside Kyiv, including a baby sleeping as explosions flashed outside an open window and smoke from an earlier strike rose nearby.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Jackson Merrill blasted a ball to left-center field leading off, and, two outs later, Jake Cronenworth drove in two runs with a shot to right-center.
    Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Sure, the proliferation of plastic with lounge benefits drove more visitors to the airport lounges.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sparked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparked. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on sparked

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster