provoke
verb (used with object)
to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex.
provokes
-
present tense formof provoke (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
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.
Truly creative and inspiring art undermines that goal, because it provokes responses like empathy and critical thinking in audiences — which gets in the way of authoritarian domination.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
Ms. Enyedi implicitly provokes such consideration through shots that often put flora in the foreground, with humans reduced to background extras.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
The romantic element of Sondheim’s score is best captured in the gorgeous singing of Chris Hunter’s Anthony Hope, whose crooning of “Johanna” provokes an epidemic of goosebumps throughout La Mirada Theatre.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 3, 2026
The worry "is that the tariff threat provokes retaliatory actions by the EU, triggering a new trade war," said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare.
From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026
I’ll see whether that provokes something—an unnatural response, any kind of reaction.
From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins
