1
as in sparkling
to give off sparks
the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in triggering
to cause to function
interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provoking
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
Examples 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 sparking
Their lives collide in a virtual reality world, where a mystical deer reveals hidden truths, sparking a journey of discovery and connection.
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
Those efforts stalled over the price, sparking a 2023 lawsuit filed by the Bolger family alleging the district’s vote could potentially limit offers from private developers for the farm.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 10 Dec. 2024
Venus in Aquarius, in the meantime, is shaking things up in your third house of communication, sparking some strange conversations with siblings, close friends or perhaps over social media.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Their rivalry has been sparking laughs—and debates—for decades, from cheeky ads to viral moments.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Assad and his family are known for a brutal dictatorship, which since 2011 has been devastated by a civil war that turned it into a breeding ground for the extremist group ISIS while sparking a refugee crisis that saw millions displaced from their homes.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024
The assailant remained at large Wednesday afternoon, sparking a search that included police drones, helicopters and dogs.
—Jake Offenhartz, arkansasonline.com, 5 Dec. 2024
The case has drawn national attention, sparking debates on public safety, race, and vigilantism.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Dec. 2024
Gillespie credited the defense with sparking the offense.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 5 Dec. 2024
Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
Those efforts stalled over the price, sparking a 2023 lawsuit filed by the Bolger family alleging the district’s vote could potentially limit offers from private developers for the farm.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 10 Dec. 2024
Venus in Aquarius, in the meantime, is shaking things up in your third house of communication, sparking some strange conversations with siblings, close friends or perhaps over social media.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Their rivalry has been sparking laughs—and debates—for decades, from cheeky ads to viral moments.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Assad and his family are known for a brutal dictatorship, which since 2011 has been devastated by a civil war that turned it into a breeding ground for the extremist group ISIS while sparking a refugee crisis that saw millions displaced from their homes.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024
The assailant remained at large Wednesday afternoon, sparking a search that included police drones, helicopters and dogs.
—Jake Offenhartz, arkansasonline.com, 5 Dec. 2024
The case has drawn national attention, sparking debates on public safety, race, and vigilantism.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Dec. 2024
Gillespie credited the defense with sparking the offense.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 5 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparking
Verb
-
With millions of square feet of expo space to explore, hundreds of thought-provoking sessions to attend and more than half of the Fortune 500 expected to meet up with, planning is key to getting the most from the show.Martine Paris, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
-
The most emotion-provoking parts of this episode for me are the Travis segments, and the main emotion those scenes provoke is irritation.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Instead of a topper, there’s a glowing Cartier logo fastened in the middle.Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Hosted at the iconic Temple House, the event featured glowing tunnels, vibrant projections, and a live mermaid in the rooftop pool.Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
December kicked off with a bountiful new moon in Sagittarius, activating your socially conscious 11th house of associations and community.Valerie Mesa, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024
-
No Chubb activation The Dolphins, on Saturday, passed on activating three players who had their practice windows toward return opened this week, outside linebackers Bradley Chubb and Cameron Goode and long snapper Blake Ferguson.Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
In light of these statistics, organizations are increasingly pushing consumers toward chatbots, emails and FAQs, encouraging customers to figure out their own problems.Todd Fisher, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Practical actions can include celebrating employee achievements, encouraging staff participation in brand initiatives and highlighting employee stories in external communications.Anna Convery-Pelletier, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Efficient logistics and supply chain management are critical to driving profitability and maintaining competitiveness in a global market.Georg Beyschlag, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world.Forbes Press Releases, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
In addition, research suggests that stimulating the vagus nerve can decrease intestinal permeability in IBD and other gastrointestinal disorders.Stacey Colino, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
-
Studies in mice and rats with partial spinal cord injuries showed that stimulating these neurons improved the animals’ ability to walk, paving the way for the current trials in humans.Michael Irving, New Atlas, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Barbaro’s performance is stirring, her falsetto fine and opalescent.Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2024
-
Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring constantly and scraping bottom of saucepan with a silicone spatula, until chocolate is melted and smooth, about 3 minutes.Anna Theoktisto, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near sparking
Cite this Entry
“Sparking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparking. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share