1
as in sparkling
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 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
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Recent Examples of sparking
Najib headed security forces in Daraa province in 2011, when teenagers were arrested and tortured for antigovernment graffiti, sparking mass protests that escalated into Syria’s devastating civil war.
—
Ghaith Alsayed, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The video circulated rapidly on social media, sparking fury as at least two White victims were pummeled into the ground by a group of Black suspects.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
If a youth talent infusion isn’t going to be responsible for sparking an offense that has finished 15th or worse in scoring for three straight seasons, then a scheme infusion will need to do the heavy lifting.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
One creator in particular, Inssi, is often credited for sparking the rising popularity of azulene.
—Devon Abelman, Allure, 24 Apr. 2026
Boyd first met Harrison in 1964 on the set of A Hard Day's Night, sparking a romance that would place her at the center of one of music's most famous love triangles.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Since the 1970s, consumers have become increasingly aware of fashion’s environmental and social impact, sparking broader conversations around sustainability.
—Andre Claudio, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2026
Investigators reported the driver refused to stop, sparking a chase.
—Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Since then, prices for many games have been raised further, sparking widespread outrage.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Ghaith Alsayed, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The video circulated rapidly on social media, sparking fury as at least two White victims were pummeled into the ground by a group of Black suspects.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
If a youth talent infusion isn’t going to be responsible for sparking an offense that has finished 15th or worse in scoring for three straight seasons, then a scheme infusion will need to do the heavy lifting.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
One creator in particular, Inssi, is often credited for sparking the rising popularity of azulene.
—Devon Abelman, Allure, 24 Apr. 2026
Boyd first met Harrison in 1964 on the set of A Hard Day's Night, sparking a romance that would place her at the center of one of music's most famous love triangles.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Since the 1970s, consumers have become increasingly aware of fashion’s environmental and social impact, sparking broader conversations around sustainability.
—Andre Claudio, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2026
Investigators reported the driver refused to stop, sparking a chase.
—Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Since then, prices for many games have been raised further, sparking widespread outrage.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparking
Verb
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The simple yet smart tool uses steam to loosen dirt, grime, food residue, and splatters for a sparkling clean microwave—no heavy scrubbing required.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
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Streep, 76, channeled Miranda Priestly by wearing a statement-making red cape coat from Givenchy by Sarah Burton's Fall 2026 collection, accessorized with black leather opera gloves, black Stuart Weitzman shoes, sparkling David Yurman jewelry and large black oversized glasses.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Innlandet County includes a rural area where two private citizens located a smaller collection of 19 silver coins on April 10, triggering the wider archaeological probe that uncovered thousands more.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
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Having to rely on someone else’s resources can feel triggering when the moon opposes Chiron.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The films below offer up thought-provoking answers, but not all of them are bullish on humanity’s chances.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
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On a brighter note, under this thought-provoking transit, networking can become surprisingly fruitful.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Depending on the evening, dinner is served outside under the open sky or inside a softly glowing hoop house.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
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What's left behind is a glowing core, known as a white dwarf, which is sending out radiation that causes the gas shells to glow.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Its trillion-parameter system uses a Mixture-of-Experts approach, activating only a fraction of parameters per task.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Apr. 2026
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This suggests that activating a stress response siphons energy away from long-term maintenance processes.—
Jasna Hodžić,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The state has tried to get upstream from abuse and neglect, raising awareness of resources and encouraging the general community to support families, said Thomas Miller, director of children, aging and community services at the Colorado Department of Human Services.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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Parents and pediatricians can advocate for child pedestrian safety by supporting and encouraging community programs with resources offered through organizations such as Safe Routes to School.—
Dr. Phyllis Agran,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For Ioane, that comes in the form of driving a defensive lineman into the ground to clear a path for his quarterback or running back.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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But the judge said that Hallford made credible claims of being a victim of domestic violence and that her ex-husband, Jon Hallford, was the driving force in their relationship.—
Colleen Slevin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Desires run deep on April 28, as Venus in Gemini meets with Pluto in Aquarius, creating one of the most magnetic and intellectually stimulating trines of the season.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
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Key Takeaways Eating a small handful of arugula before meals may gently support digestion by stimulating digestive enzymes, stomach acid, and bile.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sparking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparking. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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