sparked

VERB

start, inspire

Synonyms

STRONGEST

kindle precipitate provoke set off stimulate stir trigger

STRONG

animate excite

WEAK

set in motion touch off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm check discourage halt stop wait

STRONG

deaden

WEAK

cease

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

An article sparked an exchange on LinkedIn that blossomed into a romance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 3, 2026

The scale of the crisis has sparked a massive game of corporate finger-pointing.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026

Weak U.S. jobs data in June sparked a rotation trade, causing AI stocks to fall and healthcare and consumer staples to gain.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026

The resolution sparked tense debate during the meeting’s public comments, with several people speaking in favor or against.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026

During her senior year at Swarthmore College, she took a course in political science, which sparked her interest in political activism.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling