Showing results for "provoked"

• past participle of provoke.
• past tense form of provoke.

provoked

American  

[pruh-vohkt] / prəˈvoʊkt /

adjective

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of provoke.

Other Word Forms

• unprovoked
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of provoked

provoke ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

provoked

The ride-hailing giant’s new business has provoked a fight with traditional wildlife guides.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

And Univision Fresno provoked the Valley’s Latino community last year when it canceled a Spanish-language morning show featuring beloved anchor Lupita Lomeli.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

Sweeney said this had "provoked a significant picket and protest at the site".

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

Supriyono, another protest coordinator, told AFP he was concerned the unrest could have been deliberately provoked.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

The prospect of losing Lawrence provoked panic on the science faculty.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

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Related Words

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