sparked

past tense of spark
1
as in sparkled
to give off sparks the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 sparked An image of an orca donning a dead salmon on its head like a hat sparked speculation that an old 1980s fashion trend had returned. Danielle Hall, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024 The photo, which has gained widespread attention, has sparked a mix of reactions online. Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024 Fink and Mellon’s efficiency-minded approach, abandoning unprofitable track and cutting the number of workers required to operate trains, sparked major labor strikes but also helped modernize the industry. Zach Everson, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024 Historically, bitcoin price surges have sparked growth across the broader crypto industry, with altcoins, stablecoins, and even meme coins reaching record highs. Charlyn Ho, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 The first-round blowouts sparked a debate about whether the playoff expanded to too many teams and whether the selection committee chose correctly by putting teams like Indiana and SMU in the playoffs over three-loss SEC teams like Alabama and Ole Miss. Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 23 Dec. 2024 Social Media Reaction As expected, Carter's video sparked a lot of heated debate among viewers. Lydia Patrick, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024 Take the 2022 lip treatment craze, for instance, sparked by the launch of Hailey Bieber’s Rhode and its hero Peptide Lip Treatment. Emily Burns, WWD, 23 Dec. 2024 The actor’s presence at the main entrance sparked a surge in the crowd, with hundreds of fans rushing to catch a glimpse of the star. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparked
Verb
  • The incident was caught on video, making waves online and on local TV news, and provoked an outcry from fellow residents.
    Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
  • His 1954 run for governor in Connecticut provoked questions about whether the state was ready for a Jewish governor.
    Arthur House, Hartford Courant, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recently issued a joint advisory warning that two-factor authentication needed to be activated for all webmail and VPN accounts as a matter of urgency.
    Davey Winder, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The results showed that an infant appeared more likely to remember an image if the hippocampus activated more during the first exposure.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The party has dismissed the raucous town halls in conservative districts as the work of liberal activist groups, which have encouraged people to flood public forums in an attempt to highlight frustrations with the administration.
    Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Before the Democratic National Convention in 1912, McCombs encouraged prominent journalists and editors to write articles supportive of Wilson's nomination.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Strong trading revenues drove the beat, and shares rose 2% in early trading.
    Catherine Baab, Quartz, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Michael Busch drove an elevated fastball into the seats, the first extra-base hit Sasaki had surrendered all season.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This move has stirred controversy and concern amongst community leaders in New Orleans, a city with a historically high homicide rate.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 Jan. 2025
  • The dresses, however, have stirred interest.
    Tonya Blazio-Licorish, WWD, 30 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Sparked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparked. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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