1
as in to sparkle
to give off sparks
the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 spark
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
Many New Yorkers remember their first Broadway show as a childhood milestone or a school field trip that sparked a lifelong love of the arts.
—Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Alston’s photograph shows White in the later part of her career, wearing red, eyes bright with her signature spark.
—Alex Portée, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spark
Verb
This delay has sparked concerns within Australia’s creative community.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
Many New Yorkers remember their first Broadway show as a childhood milestone or a school field trip that sparked a lifelong love of the arts.
—Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
While the solutions may be academic in some cases, others—such as networking with like-minded professionals seeking to accelerate their careers—may be the key to unlocking that spark of imagination to proactively create a roadmap for their next steps.
—Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Alston’s photograph shows White in the later part of her career, wearing red, eyes bright with her signature spark.
—Alex Portée, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spark
Verb
-
Make cake batter: Beat cake mix, sparkling water, oil, eggs, 1 package of the pudding mix, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Many women’s dress watches are adorned with sparkling details on both the face and the band, making for a truly dazzling display.—
BestReviews,
The Mercury News,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
As the cycle proceeds toward the inevitable breakup—triggered, perhaps, by Lesbia’s dalliances during the year that Catullus was away working for Memmius—the poems of recrimination and spite, often eye-poppingly obscene, predominate.—
Daniel Mendelsohn,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
-
The explosion triggered an emergency alert to cellphones across Detroit at around 6 a.m., waking many residents, according to local Fox affiliate WJBK.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House that the administration maintained confidence in Waltz and said the case was effectively closed, even as the breach provoked bipartisan criticism and opened up divisions inside the White House.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2025
-
As an abstraction and comparison machine, Pronouns provokes anxiety, getting at the dangers of correlation.—
Mara Mills,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters A glimmer of hope lingers, however, largely borne from Trump’s tendency to oscillate between more lenient and punitive positions.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Democrats saw a glimmer of hope after achieving a significant upset victory in a GOP-leaning state Senate race in Pennsylvania last week.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Curtains designed by Rut Bryk glow in the house her husband, Tapio Wirkkala, built for her in their summer retreat in Finnish Lapland.—
Julie Lasky,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
-
While mothers are expected to radiate happiness after delivery and glow in their new role as a mom, this is unfortunately not always the case.—
Kaitlyn May,
Hartford Courant,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In this case, we’re well served to recognize that our social capital is enriched by diversifying across those deeper, fewer connections as well as the more numerous casual relationships that often have an outsized positive impact when activated at the right time.—
Tim Maurer,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Every morning, guests can watch as the Chronos opens the portals by lining them up and activating them.—
Samantha Neely,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
To bring in more visitors, Katsuo-ji came up with a creative way to encourage tourists to engage with the Daruma dolls.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
-
The frantic trading, which sent stocks spiking before plummeting again, showed how investors are operating on a hair trigger and are eager for any sign of encouraging news.—
Chris Megerian,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Stir-frying is a method of quickly searing and cooking bite-size pieces of protein and vegetables in a splash of oil over high heat.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Skin tones appear accurate, and splashes of blues and oranges pop out nicely.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spark. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share