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provoke
[ pruh-vohk ]
verb (used with object)
- to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex.
Synonyms: infuriate, exacerbate, aggravate, annoy, irk
- 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.
provoke
/ prəˈvəʊk /
verb
- 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
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Derived Forms
- proˈvokingly, adverb
- proˈvoking, adjective
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Other Words From
- pro·vok·er noun
- mis·pro·voke verb (used with object) misprovoked misprovoking
- o·ver·pro·voke verb overprovoked overprovoking
- pre·pro·voke verb (used with object) preprovoked preprovoking
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of provoke1
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Example Sentences
But he insisted that there is nothing about her death to provoke additional scrutiny.
They sit by the bar, careful to just order Voss water and thus provoke a Forbes to invite them for a drink.
The holiday may see more Hongkongers hit the streets, which in turn could provoke the authorities to take more-draconian measures.
For example, the MTA prohibits ads that “incite or provoke violence.”
Outsiders came to the town to looking to provoke the authorities, but the community did what the cops couldn't: keep the peace.
The question then becomes: why did he continually provoke Cibber, knowing the latter had such a story at hand?
She did not wish to provoke him to anger, but to make him see things in a more cheerful light.
A people that continually provoke me to anger before my face, that immolate in gardens, and sacrifice upon bricks.
He displayed no ostentation in dress, or equipage, or manners, to provoke the desire in others to humble him.
And thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear, and forbear: for they provoke me to anger.
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