provoke
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
1synonym study For provoke
Other words for provoke
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.
Words Nearby provoke
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use provoke in a sentence
His remarks reportedly provoked laughter from some JOC Council members.
Do women talk too much in meetings? Research says no but the Tokyo Olympics chief says yes | Michelle Cheng | February 4, 2021 | QuartzThe move, which effectively silences Parler, provoked ire from some conservatives.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos‘s successor will inherit his challenges | Jay Greene, Cat Zakrzewski | February 4, 2021 | Washington PostAs Larissa MacFarquhar explored in her book “Strangers Drowning,” extreme do-gooders often provoke us.
The Climate Crisis Is Worse Than You Can Imagine. Here’s What Happens If You Try. | by Elizabeth Weil | January 25, 2021 | ProPublicaLike other experts, Donovan says the core problem with the social platforms lies in their algorithms that choose to amplify content according to the amount of “engagement” it provokes.
Big Tech's Business Model Is a Threat to Democracy. Here's How to Build a Fairer Digital Future | Billy Perrigo | January 22, 2021 | TimeThe initial shot of the Moderna vaccine takes two weeks to provoke an immune response, and recipients get a booster 28 days later.
Why two doses of the new COVID-19 vaccines are better that one | Tara Santora | December 26, 2020 | Popular-Science
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 | THE DAILY BEASTThey 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.”
To Fight Pam Geller, Join Our Comedy Jihad at the MTA | Dean Obeidallah | September 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOutsiders 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 | THE DAILY BEASTThe question then becomes: why did he continually provoke Cibber, knowing the latter had such a story at hand?
A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope | Colley CibberShe did not wish to provoke him to anger, but to make him see things in a more cheerful light.
The World Before Them | Susanna MoodieA people that continually provoke me to anger before my face, that immolate in gardens, and sacrifice upon bricks.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousHe displayed no ostentation in dress, or equipage, or manners, to provoke the desire in others to humble him.
Madame Roland, Makers of History | John S. C. AbbottAnd thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear, and forbear: for they provoke me to anger.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
British Dictionary definitions for provoke
/ (prəˈvəʊk) /
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
Origin of provoke
1Derived forms of provoke
- provoking, adjective
- provokingly, adverb
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
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