provoke

[pruh-vohk]

verb (used with object)

provoked, provoking 

1. to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex.

   Synonyms: infuriate, exacerbate, aggravate, annoy, irk

2. to stir up, arouse, or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity).

   The mishap provoked a hearty laugh.

   Synonyms: instigate, rouse

3. to incite or stimulate (a person, animal, etc.) to action.

4. to give rise to, induce, or bring about.

   What could have provoked such an incident?

5. Obsolete.,  to summon.

provoke

/ prəˈvəʊk /

verb

1. to anger or infuriate

2. to cause to act or behave in a certain manner; incite or stimulate

3. to promote (certain feelings, esp anger, indignation, etc) in a person

4. obsolete,  to summon

Other Word Forms

• provokingly adverb
• provoking adjective
• provoker noun
• misprovoke verb (used with object)
• overprovoke verb
• preprovoke verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of provoke¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin prōvocāre “to call forth, challenge, provoke,” equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + vocāre “to call”; akin to vōx voice

Word History and Origins

Origin of provoke¹

C15: from Latin prōvocāre to call forth, from vocāre to call

Synonym Study

See irritate. See incite.

Example Sentences

The reappointment provoked outrage across the political spectrum and pledges to vote it down at the first chance.

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The current boom in artificial-intelligence stocks has provoked more than a bit of déjà vu for those who lived through the dot-com bubble that burst around the turn of the 21st century.

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His troop deployments are a false flag — meant to provoke a response in order to justify harsh crackdowns.

Read more on Salon

It is important, he says, to provoke pain in those you love.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When the clot is clearly provoked by surgery, with no other major risk factors, testing isn’t a standard next step.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• arouse 
• bring about 
• cause 
• elicit 
• galvanize 
• generate 
• incite 
• induce 
• inflame 
• inspire 
• instigate 
• kindle 
• lead to www.thesaurus.com
• motivate 
• precipitate 
• prompt 
• stir