sparking

verb

present participle of spark
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

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 sparking Asia’s rapid data center buildout is sparking local pushback, as governments’ urge to capture value in the AI investment boom runs into constituents’ environmental and health concerns. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Three baby goats at a North Carolina petting zoo tested positive for rabies, sparking a statewide search for people who interacted with the animals. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 Many more were imperiled by muddy water racing through the narrow ravines, sparking frantic rescue missions for dozens. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026 Several photos and videos of her strutting down the runway at PrettyLittleThing’s Miami Swim Week event went viral in early June 2026, sparking conversation about her transformation. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 1 Sep. 2026 The series is inspired by the real-life phenomenon of fans meeting and sparking a connection at Cubs games. — William Earl, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 Besides sparking public interest in science, the prizes have helped raise researchers’ profiles by increasing their media exposure and public recognition. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026 But this weekend’s flyby was especially low and dramatic, generating global interest after it was shown as part of the pregame broadcast, and sparking a flurry of videos shot by witnesses. — Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 The family's decision to return home to Harry's home country after six years in California shocked both sides of the Atlantic, sparking a range of reactions from confusion to celebration. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparking
  1. sparkling
  2. triggering
  3. provoking
  4. glowing
  5. activating
  6. encouraging
  7. driving
  8. stimulating
Verb
  • Underneath a sparkling 64-arm crystal chandelier, the two tallied long rallies with Osaka ultimately taking the win.
    — Paul Chi, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In videos shared on TikTok over the weekend, Nash’s wife Jessica Betts surprised her by proposing once again with a sparkling six-carat diamond engagement ring.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of sparkling
Verb
  • Driven by artificial intelligence demand, memory chips are in short supply, pushing prices steadily higher and triggering explosive profit growth for Micron.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Officials are still investigating the exact cause, though preliminary assessments suggest an ice avalanche may have blocked a river upstream in Tibet, triggering the sudden outburst flood.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of triggering
Verb
  • By the mid-nineteenth century, the it-narrative began to interest authors invested less in provoking excitement than in guiding the moral development of their readers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine’s recent strikes into Russia also have exposed weaknesses in Russia’s air defenses, which could prompt Putin to think twice about provoking a retaliatory attack.
    — Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • Its alcohol-free, bi-phase formula leaves skin glowing thanks to its nourishing oil base.
    — Allure Editors, Allure, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The picture-perfect launch today adds to Roman's glowing record of efficiency and performance.
    — Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of glowing
Verb
  • The Athletic reported on Sunday that Mateta was in dispute with Palace over the final year of his contract, which is set to expire next summer, with Palace activating an option to extend his deal by a further year last December.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • That means enterprising Quest owners should be able to sideload apps without needing to register for a Meta Developer account and activating Developer Mode through Meta’s mobile app.
    — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of activating
Verb
  • Historically, the United States has sent mixed messages to Europeans, encouraging them to step up but then scolding them for seeking autonomy.
    — JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The scarcity itself became part of the appeal, encouraging moviegoers to attend early, return for later editions and share the collectibles online.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of encouraging
Verb
  • Economists can debate whether a top-15 economy should morph itself into a giant leveraged bet on the AI trade, one now driving growth to new highs rather than simply riding alongside it.
    — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Still, several financial analysts have concluded that the prediction frenzy, with its sleek mobile apps and easy-to-understand odds, are driving the stock drops.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of driving
Verb
  • While stimulating a fresh sense of observation, Selwyn also wanted to counter some myths about museums.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026
  • But now this new syndrome, Alpha-gal syndrome, is stimulating communities to say, 'Enough is enough.
    — David Pogue, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulating

Browse Nearby Words

sparkily
sparking
sparkle
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Cite this Entry

“Sparking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparking. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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