释义
[ pruh -vohk ] SHOW IPA
/ prəˈvoʊk / PHONETIC RESPELLING
SEE SYNONYMS FOR provoke ON THESAURUS.COM
verb (used with object), pro·voked, pro·vok·ing. to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex.
to stir up, arouse, or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity): The mishap provoked a hearty laugh.
to incite or stimulate (a person, animal, etc.) to action.
to give rise to, induce, or bring about: What could have provoked such an incident?
Obsolete . to summon.
Origin of provoke 1400–50; late Middle English <Latin prōvocāre to call forth, challenge, provoke, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + vocāre to call; akin to vōx voice
SYNONYMS FOR provoke 1 irk, annoy, aggravate, exacerbate, infuriate.
2 rouse, instigate.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR provoke ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for provoke 1 . See irritate. 2, 3 . See incite.
OTHER WORDS FROM provoke pro·vok·er, noun mis·pro·voke, verb (used with object), mis·pro·voked, mis·pro·vok·ing. o·ver·pro·voke, verb, o·ver·pro·voked, o·ver·pro·vok·ing. pre·pro·voke, verb (used with object), pre·pro·voked, pre·pro·vok·ing.
un·pro·voked, adjective
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Words nearby provoke provitamin D2, provo, provocateur, provocation, provocative, provoke , provoking, provolone, provost, provost court, provost guard
Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for provoke But he insisted that there is nothing about her death to provoke additional scrutiny.
The Mystery Death Of A Female Firefighter | Christopher Moraff| December 13, 2014| DAILY BEAST
The holiday may see more Hongkongers hit the streets, which in turn could provoke the authorities to take more-draconian measures.
Occupy Hong Kong Hangs On | Lennox Samuels| September 30, 2014| DAILY BEAST
For example, the MTA prohibits ads that “incite or provoke violence.”
To Fight Pam Geller, Join Our Comedy Jihad at the MTA | Dean Obeidallah| September 23, 2014| DAILY BEAST
Outsiders came to the town to looking to provoke the authorities, but the community did what the cops couldn't: keep the peace.
The Communist Agitators Trying to Ignite Ferguson | Justin Glawe| August 23, 2014| DAILY BEAST
When ISIS beheaded an American journalist, it meant to intimidate—and provoke —the United States.
Obama vs. ISIS: This Time It's Personal | Eli Lake| August 22, 2014| DAILY BEAST
If Wade had been seeking to provoke , he could have chosen no more unfortunate words.
King Spruce, A Novel | Holman Day
It must be admitted that his respectable Eminence the Cardinal had enough to provoke and embitter him with his relatives.
A Decade of Italian Women, v. II (of 2) | T. Adolphus Trollope
She feared to provoke that again, so made no fishing comment; but she was abundantly curious of what his choice would be.
Love and Lucy | Maurice Henry Hewlett
After that Kate did not provoke her, and they never had any more trouble.
Proud and Lazy | Oliver Optic
Consequently every subject liable to provoke a discussion should be avoided.
Our Deportment | John H. Young
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British Dictionary definitions for provoke verb (tr) to anger or infuriate
to cause to act or behave in a certain manner; incite or stimulate
to promote (certain feelings, esp anger, indignation, etc) in a person
obsolete to summon
Derived forms of provoke provoking , adjective provokingly , adverb Word Origin for provoke C15: from Latin prōvocāre to call forth, from vocāre to call
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Words related to provoke aggravate, offend, incite, irritate, raise, enrage, inflame, irk, anger, infuriate, foment, prompt, inspire, bring about, stir, motivate, induce, generate, elicit, arouse