provoke
verb
transitive verb
Synonyms
- arouse
- encourage
- excite
- fire (up)
- impassion
- incite
- instigate
- move
- pique
- rev (up)
- spark
- stimulate
- stir
Example Sentences
Sean T. Collins, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2022 Like a war-hungry defense department, Corlys will settle only for military conquest, despite the council’s advice that such a conflict would provoke the Free Cities. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 28 Aug. 2022 Medical staff lived in permanent fear that patients would provoke the soldiers. WSJ, 14 Aug. 2022 Asked Wednesday if Finland would provoke Russia by joining NATO, Niinistö said Putin would be to blame. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 12 May 2022 But the world is better for it, as these actions would almost certainly provoke a more dangerous conflict with a nuclear power. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 5 Mar. 2022 Smith’s fictitious story about knife-wielding panhandlers stoked unfounded fears about people experiencing homelessness, leading to concerns the crime would provoke confrontations. Alex Mann, baltimoresun.com, 28 Feb. 2022 Among other things, that could concern material that if disclosed could provoke hostilities against the U.S. or its allies or disrupt U.S. foreign relations in a way that undermines national security. Dustin Volz, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 The National Weather Service warned that slow-moving showers and thunderstorms could provoke more flash flooding through Tuesday morning along waterways swollen by Sunday’s heavy rain, a dismal coda to last week’s historic floods. Bruce Schreiner And Rebecca Reynolds, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, from Anglo-French *provoker, provocher, from Latin provocare, from pro- forth + vocare to call, from voc-, vox voice — more at pro-, voice
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b
Kids Definition
provoke
verb
Medical Definition
provoke
transitive verb
Legal Definition
provoke
transitive verb
provoke
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- encourage
- stimulate
- arouse
- stir
- incite
- inspire
- instigate
- excite
- spark
- induce
- motivate
- move
- trigger
- motive
- pique
- drive
- impassion
- ignite
- inflame
- galvanize
- anger
- activate
- foment
- energize
- fire (up)
- rev (up)
- enrage
- enflame
- animate
- bother
- build a fire under
- vitalize
- quicken
- set off
- annoy
- fan
- aggravate
- ferment
- upset
- irritate
- taunt
- abet
- kindle
- exasperate
- raise
- pump up
- tease
- get
- vex
- jeer
- madden
- gall
- key (up)
- whip (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- subdue
- soothe
- calm
- placate
- appease
- mollify
- pacify
- tranquillize
- tranquilize
Synonyms & Similar Words
- raise
- incite
- encourage
- promote
- trigger
- stimulate
- instigate
- foment
- cultivate
- ferment
- stimulate
- abet
- inspire
- pick
- brew
- further
- foster
- motivate
- stir (up)
- rouse
- set in motion
- nurture
- whip (up)
- nourish
- forward
- excite
- inflame
- galvanize
- detonate
- sow
- advance
- set off
- activate
- energize
- invigorate
- enliven
- enflame
- set
- vitalize
- quicken
- fire
- pep (up)
- jazz (up)
- liven (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- discourage
- restrain
- inhibit
- regulate
- hold
- constrain
- tame
- curb
- check
- rein (in)
- allay
- subdue
- soothe
- settle
- calm
- quiet
- bridle
- still
- tranquilize
- tranquillize
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of provoke are exasperate, irritate, nettle, peeve, and rile. While all these words mean "to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance," provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.
The synonyms exasperate and provoke are sometimes interchangeable, but exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.
While in some cases nearly identical to provoke, irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.
The meanings of nettle and provoke largely overlap; however, nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.
The words peeve and provoke can be used in similar contexts, but peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.
Although the words rile and provoke have much in common, rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.