SPARKS Synonyms: 269 Similar and Opposite Words

sparks 1 of 2

verb

Definition of sparks

present tense third-person singular of spark

as in sparkles

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in triggers

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in provokes

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

sparks

2 of 2

noun

plural of spark

as in splashes

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 sparks

Verb

Nothing sparks joy and jumpstarts the Christmas season like a food advent calendar. — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026 This one, steeped in milk and cream, sparks off the roof of your mouth with a gentle chile burn and the pleasantly numbing zap of cloves. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026 Bruno and Drake Confront Each Other As the flirtatious energy between Karol and Bruno and Karol and Drake continues to heat up and sparks dating rumors, both men have made their interest clear. — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026 The arrival of Alma, a real estate developer from Madrid who settles in Gazulea with her two daughters, disrupts the community’s life and sparks a conflict between the town’s future and the preservation of its roots. — Franchesca Guim, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026 The study also found that the media habits of footwear loyalists are lean toward Peacock and women’s sports, while Pinterest sparks ideas and TikTok guides their apparel research. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026 Language sparks confusion Broward Commissioner Steve Geller confirmed the Gay Men’s Chorus wouldn’t be funded under this law. — Zoey Thomas, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026 Dash camera video shows a large tree falling across the road and onto power lines, sending a blast of blue light and sparks into the air as Ferranti slammed on his brakes. — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 Unfortunately, a cartel gets involved, and plenty of action sparks from there. — William Earl, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Noun

People were urged to exercise extreme caution with any outdoor activities involving fire or potential sparks. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall, and Kylie balance empire-building with something far more personal, from unexpected sparks and new relationships, to healing old wounds and embracing independence. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026 Leo July 23 – August 22 Creative sparks feel playful and generous now. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2026 Both teams looked strong in their debuts, though the Jayhawks had to create some sparks late in the second quarter against Long Island. — Pj Green september 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2026 The failure can expose metal from the wheel or other vehicle components, which can scrape against pavement and create sparks or intense heat. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 The scenes that generate the most sparks tend to be those between Murdoch and Lamb, becoming more adversarial when the editor starts operating by his own rules. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 More fireworks throw sparks into the air and the crowd cheers. — Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026 The area has been hit by winds that can gust up to 35 miles per hour over the past few days, meaning sparks have been able to spread. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparks

Verb

The Tanana River in the background is flowing high, and most of the area between the river and the Bluff sparkles as sun rays glisten on the thousands of small pools and ponds that fill every dip and crevice in the land surface.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
The repartee sparkles; the farcical touches lighten the tone.

— Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of sparkles

Verb

Eating triggers saliva production, but a stone can keep the saliva from draining, causing the gland to swell.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Before enrollment, people volunteering for the study would be screened for early signs of cancer because TB-4 triggers vessel growth and cell migration, which might exacerbate malignant growths.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of triggers

Verb

Another question, says Professor Trotti at Ithaca College, is whether a public execution portrays strength or provokes horror.

— Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2026
In deceptively plain diction, the hurdle of one love relationship provokes an exploration of desire and belonging.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of provokes

Noun

The apron is built to take a beating—oils and rogue splashes barely register, practically rolling right off the surface.

— Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Jazz fusion keyboardist George Duke, however, plays wild splashes of melody on an electric piano in the empty spaces between Waits’s lines.

— Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of splashes

Verb

Between the two telescopes, the blue and red Trifid Nebula glows to the left of the larger and redder Lagoon Nebula, all within the Sagittarius constellation.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Show Caption 1 of 43 A Chicago Bears digital billboard glows at sunrise just off of Route 53 at the former Arlington International Racecourse on May 23, 2025, in Arlington Heights.

— Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of glows

Verb

The agency rejected the recommendation, saying that using cameras that automatically activate when an officer pulls their weapon or activates a car siren could risk privacy concerns.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
And a few are very highly specific, such as the protease that activates insulin, which only cuts near a very specific series of amino acids.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of activates

Verb

Applied to a solo outing, that approach encourages diners to appreciate the meal in front of them instead of scrolling through their phones.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
Jordan says a recent guideline change encourages doctors to diagnose and treat sooner based on symptoms.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of encourages

Noun

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
Viewers get only glimmers of the characters’ personalities and backgrounds, but the show offers enough detail and texture to understand how Season 1 might unfold.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of glimmers

Browse Nearby Words

sparkly

sparks

sparky

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Style

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

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Synonyms of sparks

verb

noun

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