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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:

Hours after Pillay was named the laureate, the United States announced new sanctions against the ICC, provoking swift condemnation from member states and the United Nations.

From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026

Now Uber says it has removed its familiar branding from the sides of its four-wheel drive vehicles to avoid provoking a fight with the traditional guides.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

The technology allows users to make calls, interact with AI hands-free and also take photos and videos simply by touching the frames, provoking concerns about privacy.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

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

He seemed to ignore that settlers were provoking the Indigenous peoples, who were well aware of what the settlers intended.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

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