provoked
Americanadjective
-
angered or enraged.
The boys continued to test out the improved model until it was destroyed by a provoked weasel.
For all the hype, the “riot” was actually quite mild—just a few empty beer cans and some stones thrown by an already provoked crowd.
-
stirred up or aroused.
The longtime columnist says that it helps to have an easily provoked sense of indignation.
To avoid being eaten, a provoked pufferfish blows itself up into a spiny living balloon the size of a volleyball.
-
prompted or caused by some action, behavior, or circumstance; brought about, often deliberately.
His laugh was a contagious, easily provoked chuckle.
A provoked bite can occur when a person teases a dog or tries to take away the dog's food while the dog is eating.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of provoked
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It has also provoked debate over whether the mission of higher education — and help paying for it — should be tied to a paycheck after graduation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
The dismissal provoked criticism among Ukrainians who credit Mykhailo Fedorov for his efforts to modernize the country’s armed forces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
Salgado Araujo’s death provoked outrage in Mexico, where government officials this week called on U.S. prosecutors to open a criminal investigation into the case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
South Korea hit e-commerce giant Coupang with a record $408 million fine Thursday over a leak that allegedly exposed more than 30 million customers' data and has provoked the ire of US lawmakers.
From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026
This struck us as a curious task, and we wondered what had provoked the change.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
