Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for "provoking"
Synonyms

provoking

American  
[pruh-voh-king] / prəˈvoʊ kɪŋ /

adjective

  1. serving to provoke; causing annoyance.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of provoking

First recorded in 1520–30; provoke + -ing 2

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.

See Examples For:

They say these molecules may have several practical advantages, including relatively inexpensive production, stability and a low likelihood of provoking an immune response.

From Science Daily Sep. 10, 2026

Campbell explained that second-generation Irish identity is often misunderstood, with artistic expressions of that heritage frequently provoking mixed reactions.

From BBC Aug. 5, 2026

For some time, Nicaragua’s leaders have largely avoided provoking Trump.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 26, 2026

At the same time, the allies were trying to step back from a decades-old dependency on American technology, military power, and trade, without provoking Washington.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 8, 2026

“I never really saw it,” said the provoking girl.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training