SPARK Synonyms: 268 Similar and Opposite Words

spark 1 of 2

verb

Definition of spark

as in to sparkle

to give off sparks the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to trigger

to cause to function interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spark

2 of 2

noun

ˈspärk

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

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

Verb

That experience sparked a lifelong commitment to early childhood education and reform, according to her obituary. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 An Orange County law firm has sued San Diego Gas and Electric, alleging that the utility's equipment sparked the Norte Fire near San Juan Capistrano. — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Noun

But on the flip side, the spark that drew them together in the first place is also still there, in exactly the same way. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 With the Chiefs trailing by three, the team was in need of an offensive spark. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spark

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spark

Verb

The bathroom was decked out with marble on the floors and walls, and the walk-in shower was spacious and sparkling clean.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
Found about 37 million light-years from Earth, this galaxy sparkles in this side-on view.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of sparkle

Verb

The proposal would give frontier AI developers a clearer legal framework while restricting the circumstances that could trigger government action.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Wilson, whose comments helped trigger the confrontation, was not a defendant in the lawsuit.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of trigger

Verb

The same principle applies to debates about religion, economics and virtually any subject capable of provoking strong emotions.

— Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Fortunately, the fake tip didn’t provoke any further actions from the PPD, and was reportedly flagged as spam after being picked up by its safeguards.

— Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of provoke

Noun

Curt Cignetti has not just provided a championship mindset for the passionate fans that were sitting through days of blowouts and small glimmers of hope in past years.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Still, Crow—the ever-optimist, as her body of work proves—clings on to the glimmers of hope from leaders of the world who do show us the best parts of humanity.

— Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of glimmer

Verb

Two letters redirect actions MuTRAP is a backdoor attack, also known as a Trojan attack, in which malicious behavior is embedded in a model and activated only when a specific trigger appears.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Ukraine received no warning from its partners ahead of the first wave of attacks, and information about a second wave arrived too late for air raid sirens to be activated in time, air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on national television.

— SAMYA KULLAB, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of activate

Browse Nearby Words

sparingly

spark

sparked

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Spark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spark. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of spark

verb

noun

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