provoke

[ pruh-vohk ]

verb (used with object)

, pro·voked, pro·vok·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• proˈvoking, adjective
• proˈvokingly, adverb

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

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

His remarks reportedly provoked laughter from some JOC Council members.

From Quartz

The move, which effectively silences Parler, provoked ire from some conservatives.

From Washington Post

As Larissa MacFarquhar explored in her book “Strangers Drowning,” extreme do-gooders often provoke us.

From ProPublica

Like 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.

From Time

The initial shot of the Moderna vaccine takes two weeks to provoke an immune response, and recipients get a booster 28 days later.

From Popular-Science

But he insisted that there is nothing about her death to provoke additional scrutiny.

From The Daily Beast

They sit by the bar, careful to just order Voss water and thus provoke a Forbes to invite them for a drink.

From The Daily Beast

The holiday may see more Hongkongers hit the streets, which in turn could provoke the authorities to take more-draconian measures.

From The Daily Beast

For example, the MTA prohibits ads that “incite or provoke violence.”

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

The question then becomes: why did he continually provoke Cibber, knowing the latter had such a story at hand?

From Project Gutenberg

She did not wish to provoke him to anger, but to make him see things in a more cheerful light.

From Project Gutenberg

A people that continually provoke me to anger before my face, that immolate in gardens, and sacrifice upon bricks.

From Project Gutenberg

He displayed no ostentation in dress, or equipage, or manners, to provoke the desire in others to humble him.

From Project Gutenberg

And thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear, and forbear: for they provoke me to anger.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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