WordValeprovoke
to stimulate a reaction, often anger
In more detail
1. (verb) to cause someone to become angry or annoyed
2. (verb) to deliberately try to make someone react or do something, often by challenging or annoying them
3. (verb) to cause or bring about a particular reaction or situation
Examples
- 1. His rude comments provoked her to angry words.
- 2. The protesters provoked the police by throwing rocks.
- 3. The scandal provoked a government investigation.
How to use provoke
Provoke carries a sense of intentionality or direct causation, suggesting that someone or something causes a reaction or situation, often through deliberate challenge or irritation. It is commonly used in contexts ranging from personal interactions to political and social situations. Unlike merely 'annoy,' provoke implies a stronger stimulus that actively elicits a response.
Common phrases
- provoke a reaction
- provoke anger
- provoke a response
- deliberately provoke
- provoke someone into doing something
Synonyms
anger · irritate · annoy · incite · trigger
Opposites
appease · pacify · soothe
Word family
provocation (noun) · provocative (adjective) · provocatively (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use provoke as a simple synonym for 'cause' in neutral contexts; provoke specifically implies deliberate action or irritation, not merely bringing something about.
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