Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense provokes, present participle provoking, past tense, past participle provoked
1. verb
If you provoke someone, you deliberately annoy them and try to make them behave aggressively.
He started beating me when I was about fifteen but I didn't do anything to provokehim. [VERB noun]
I provoked him into doing something really stupid. [VERB noun + into]
Synonyms: anger, insult, annoy, offend More Synonyms of provoke
2. verb
If something provokes a reaction, it causes it.
His election success has provoked a shocked reaction. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: rouse, cause, produce, lead to More Synonyms of provoke
provoke in British English
(prəˈvəʊk)
verb(transitive)
1.
to anger or infuriate
2.
to cause to act or behave in a certain manner; incite or stimulate
3.
to promote (certain feelings, esp anger, indignation, etc) in a person
4. obsolete
to summon
Derived forms
provoking (proˈvoking)
adjective
provokingly (proˈvokingly)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Latin prōvocāre to call forth, from vocāre to call
provoke in American English
(prəˈvoʊk; proʊˈvoʊk)
verb transitiveWord forms: proˈvoked or proˈvoking
1.
to excite to some action or feeling
2.
to anger, irritate, or annoy
3.
to stir up (action or feeling)
4.
to call forth; evoke
to provoke a smile
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈirriˌtate
SYNONYMY NOTE: provoke, in this connection, implies rather generally an arousing to some action or feeling[thought-provoking]; excite suggests a more powerful or profound stirring or moving of the thoughts or emotions[it excites my imagination]; stimulate implies an arousing as if by goading or pricking and, hence, often connotes a bringingout of a state of inactivity or indifference [to stimulate one's enthusiasm]; pique suggests a stimulating as if by irritating mildly [to pique one's curiosity]
Derived forms
provoker (proˈvoker)
noun
Word origin
ME provoken < MFr provoquer < L provocare, to call forth < pro-, pro-2 + vocare, to call < vox, voice
Examples of 'provoke' in a sentence
provoke
The vehement reaction it provoked wounded him deeply.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He had to learn how to handle certain situations because all his career he has had people trying to provoke him.
The Sun (2016)
I think the defenders know him and sometimes they try to provoke him.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He accused protesters of trying to provoke a coup.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The pictures provoked a furious reaction yesterday.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We are aware of the unique nature of the incident that provoked his anger.
The Sun (2008)
The hostile reaction provoked more bad passes.
The Sun (2008)
She looks for clothes that can tell a story and provoke an emotional reaction.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Major stress can provoke a reaction days afterwards.
The Sun (2014)
If it still provokes a reaction then it should be excluded for six months at least.
Chaitow, Leon The Beat Fatigue Workbook - how to identify the causes (1988)
But there is also the fact that any rearranging of the distribution would be extremely likely to provoke a hostile reaction.
Yearley, Steven Science, Technology, and Social Change (1988)
Are you trying to provoke me?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She will also attempt to defuse the anger provoked throughout the police service by ministers questioning the tactics deployed to quell the disturbances.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Either somebody has misunderstood your intentions or they're trying to provoke you.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
When plans were mooted for just such an enterprise in America it provoked a furious reaction.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A few try to provoke a reaction.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I am ashamed of what happened and understand the outrage and anger it has provoked.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We are trying to provoke a bit more excitement, but it has to come from the league and its clubs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I'm not trying to provoke anyone.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A number of individuals singled out one of our officers, trying to provoke him.
The Sun (2013)
I try to provoke him by suggesting he's getting softer on politicians in the maturity of his years.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The college conducted a listening exercise, provoking anger from donors and alumni, before deciding that the statue should remain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Its only purpose seems to have been to provoke people who really don't need any more provoking over a subject that really doesn't need any more speculation.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Quotations
No-one provokes me with impunity (Nemo me impune lacessit)Motto of the Crown of Scotland and of all Scottish regiments
In other languages
provoke
British English: provoke VERB
If you provoke someone, you deliberately annoy them and try to make them behave aggressively.
He hit me, but I didn't do anything to provoke him.
American English: provoke
Brazilian Portuguese: provocar
Chinese: 对…挑衅
European Spanish: provocar
French: provoquer
German: provozieren
Italian: provocare
Japanese: 挑発する
Korean: 성나게 하다
European Portuguese: provocar
Latin American Spanish: provocar
All related terms of 'provoke'
provoke criticism
Criticism is the action of expressing disapproval of something or someone. A criticism is a statement that expresses disapproval.
provoke emotions
An emotion is a feeling such as happiness, love , fear , anger , or hatred , which can be caused by the situation that you are in or the people you are with.
provoke violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
provoke a backlash
A backlash against a tendency or recent development in society or politics , is a sudden, strong reaction against it.
provoke a crisis
A crisis is a situation in which something or someone is affected by one or more very serious problems .
provoke a response
Your response to an event or to something that is said is your reply or reaction to it.
Chinese translation of 'provoke'
provoke
(prəˈvəuk)
vt
(= annoy)[person]激怒 (jīnù)
(= cause)[fight, reaction, anger]挑起 (tiǎoqǐ)
to provoke sb into doing sth刺激某人做某事 (cìjī mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to deliberately act in a way intended to anger someone
I didn't want to do anything to provoke him.
Synonyms
anger
The decision to allow more construction angered the residents.
insult
annoy
Try making a note of the things that annoy you.
offend
I had no intention of offending the community.
irritate
Their attitude irritates me.
infuriate
It infuriated her to have to deal with this man.
hassle (informal)
aggravate (informal)
What aggravates you most about this country?
incense
This proposal will incense conservation campaigners.
enrage
Their complete lack of respect enraged me.
gall
It was their smugness that galled her most.
put someone out
They were quite put out to find me in charge.
madden
The ticking of the clock really maddens me.
exasperate
The constant interruptions were beginning to exasperate me.
vex
Everything about that man vexes me.
affront
One example that particularly affronted him was at the world championships.
chafe
irk
The rehearsal process irked him increasingly.
rile
Cancellations rarely riled him.
pique
She was piqued by his lack of enthusiasm.
get on someone's nerves (informal)
The kids get on her nerves a bit at times.
get someone's back up
piss someone off (taboo, slang)
It pisses me off when they start moaning.
put someone's back up
try someone's patience
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang)
make someone's blood boil
get in someone's hair (informal)
rub someone up the wrong way
hack someone off (informal)
Opposites
calm
,
appease
,
placate
,
quiet
,
soothe
,
sweeten
,
pacify
,
mollify
,
conciliate
,
propitiate
2 (verb)
Definition
to bring about
His comments have provoked a shocked reaction.
Synonyms
rouse
He did more to rouse the crowd than anybody else.
cause
I don't want to cause any trouble.
produce
Cooking with spices produces a wonderful smell.
lead to
move
The hearings moved me to come up with these suggestions.
fire
They were fired with an enthusiasm for public speaking.
promote
occasion (formal)
The incident occasioned a full-scale parliamentary row.
excite
I only take on work that excites me.
inspire
The car's effortless handling inspires confidence.
generate
prompt
The recession has prompted consumers to cut back on buying cars.
stir
I was intrigued by him, stirred by his intellect.
stimulate
I was stimulated to examine my deepest thoughts.
motivate
His hard work was motivated by a need to achieve.
induce
an economic crisis induced by high oil prices
bring about
evoke
The programme has evoked a storm of protest.
give rise to
precipitate
elicit
He was hopeful that his request would elicit a positive response.
inflame
They hold the rebels responsible for inflaming the villagers.
incite
He incited his fellow citizens to take revenge.
instigate
The violence was instigated by ex-members of the secret police.
kindle
These poems have helped kindle the imagination of generations of children.
foment
They accused strike leaders of fomenting violence.
call forth
draw forth
bring on or down
Opposites
ease
,
relieve
, moderate,
modify
,
temper
,
curb
,
blunt
,
lessen
,
lull
,
allay
,
mitigate
,
abate
,
assuage
Quotation
No-one provokes me with impunity (Nemo me impune lacessit) [Motto of the Crown of Scotland and of all Scottish regiments]
Seeanger
Synonyms of 'provoke'
provoke
Explore 'provoke' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cause
Definition
to be the cause of
I don't want to cause any trouble.
Synonyms
produce,
begin,
create,
effect,
lead to,
occasion (formal),
result in,
generate,
provoke,
compel,
motivate,
induce,
bring about,
give rise to,
precipitate,
incite,
engender
in the sense of elicit
Definition
to bring about (a response or reaction)
He was hopeful that his request would elicit a positive response.
Synonyms
bring about,
cause,
derive,
bring out,
evoke,
give rise to,
draw out,
bring forth,
bring to light,
call forth
in the sense of enrage
Definition
to make extremely angry
Their complete lack of respect enraged me.
Synonyms
anger,
provoke,
irritate,
infuriate,
aggravate (informal),
incense,
gall,
madden,
inflame,
exasperate,
incite,
antagonize,
make you angry,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
make your blood boil,
get your back up,
make you see red (informal),
put your back up
in the sense of evoke
Definition
to provoke or bring about
The programme has evoked a storm of protest.
Synonyms
arouse,
cause,
excite,
stimulate,
induce,
awaken,
give rise to,
stir up,
rekindle,
summon up
in the sense of exasperate
Definition
to cause great irritation to
The constant interruptions were beginning to exasperate me.
Synonyms
irritate,
anger,
provoke,
annoy,
rouse,
infuriate,
hassle (informal),
exacerbate,
aggravate (informal),
incense,
enrage,
gall,
madden,
inflame,
bug (informal),
nettle,
get to (informal),
vex,
embitter,
irk,
rile (informal),
pique,
rankle,
peeve (informal),
needle (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
try the patience of,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
get in your hair (informal),
get on your wick (British, slang),
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of excite
Definition
to make (a person) feel so happy that he or she is unable to relax because he or she is looking forward eagerly to something
I only take on work that excites me.
Synonyms
thrill,
inspire,
stir,
stimulate,
provoke,
awaken,
animate,
move,
fire,
rouse,
exhilarate,
agitate,
quicken,
inflame,
enliven,
galvanize,
foment
in the sense of fire
Definition
to arouse to strong emotion
They were fired with an enthusiasm for public speaking.
Synonyms
inspire,
excite,
stir,
stimulate,
motivate,
irritate,
arouse,
awaken,
animate,
rouse,
stir up,
quicken,
inflame,
incite,
electrify,
enliven,
spur on,
galvanize,
inspirit,
impassion
in the sense of foment
Definition
to encourage or stir up (trouble)
They accused strike leaders of fomenting violence.
Synonyms
stir up,
raise,
encourage,
promote,
excite,
spur,
foster,
stimulate,
provoke,
brew,
arouse,
rouse,
agitate,
quicken,
incite,
instigate,
whip up,
goad,
abet,
sow the seeds of,
fan the flames
in the sense of gall
Definition
to annoy or irritate
It was their smugness that galled her most.
Synonyms
annoy,
provoke,
irritate,
aggravate (informal),
get (informal),
trouble,
bother,
disturb,
plague,
madden,
ruffle,
exasperate,
nettle,
vex,
displease,
irk,
rile (informal),
peeve (informal),
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
get up your nose (informal),
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
make your blood boil,
piss you off (taboo, slang),
rub up the wrong way,
get on your wick (British, slang),
get your back up,
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of get in someone's hair
Synonyms
annoy,
plague,
irritate,
harass,
hassle (informal),
aggravate (informal),
exasperate,
pester,
be on someone's back (slang),
get on someone's nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
get up your nose (informal),
piss you off (slang),
get on your wick (British, slang),
hack you off (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of get on someone's nerves
The kids get on her nerves a bit at times.
Synonyms
annoy,
provoke,
bug (informal),
needle (informal),
plague,
irritate,
aggravate (informal),
madden,
ruffle,
exasperate,
nettle,
irk,
rile,
peeve,
get under your skin (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
get up your nose (informal),
make your blood boil,
piss you off (slang),
rub (someone) up the wrong way (informal),
get your goat (slang),
get in your hair (informal),
get on your wick (British, slang),
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of incense
Definition
to make very angry
This proposal will incense conservation campaigners.
Synonyms
anger,
infuriate,
enrage,
excite,
provoke,
irritate,
gall,
madden,
inflame,
exasperate,
rile (informal),
raise the hackles of,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
make your blood boil (informal),
rub you up the wrong way,
make your hackles rise,
get your hackles up,
make you see red (informal)
in the sense of incite
Definition
to stir up or provoke to action
He incited his fellow citizens to take revenge.
Synonyms
provoke,
encourage,
drive,
excite,
prompt,
urge,
spur,
stimulate,
set on,
animate,
rouse,
prod,
stir up,
inflame,
instigate,
whip up,
egg on,
goad,
impel,
foment,
put up to,
agitate for or against
in the sense of induce
Definition
to cause or bring about
an economic crisis induced by high oil prices
Synonyms
cause,
produce,
create,
begin,
effect,
lead to,
occasion (formal),
generate,
provoke,
motivate,
set off,
bring about,
give rise to,
precipitate,
incite,
instigate,
engender,
set in motion
in the sense of inflame
Definition
to make angry or excited
They hold the rebels responsible for inflaming the villagers.
Synonyms
enrage,
stimulate,
provoke,
fire,
heat,
excite,
anger,
arouse,
rouse,
infuriate,
ignite,
incense,
madden,
agitate,
kindle,
rile,
foment,
intoxicate,
make your blood boil,
impassion
in the sense of infuriate
Definition
to make very angry
It infuriated her to have to deal with this man.
Synonyms
enrage,
anger,
provoke,
irritate,
incense,
gall,
madden,
exasperate,
rile,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
be like a red rag to a bull,
make your blood boil,
get your goat (slang),
make your hackles rise,
raise your hackles,
get your back up,
make you see red (informal),
put your back up
in the sense of inspire
Definition
to arouse (an emotion or a reaction)
The car's effortless handling inspires confidence.
Synonyms
arouse,
cause,
produce,
excite,
prompt,
induce,
awaken,
give rise to,
ignite,
kindle,
enkindle
in the sense of instigate
Definition
to cause to happen
The violence was instigated by ex-members of the secret police.
Synonyms
provoke,
start,
encourage,
move,
influence,
prompt,
trigger,
spur,
stimulate,
set off,
initiate,
bring about,
rouse,
prod,
stir up,
get going,
incite,
kick-start,
whip up,
impel,
kindle,
foment,
actuate
in the sense of irk
Definition
to irritate or vex
The rehearsal process irked him increasingly.
Synonyms
irritate,
annoy,
aggravate (informal),
provoke,
bug (informal),
put out (informal),
gall,
ruffle,
nettle,
vex,
rile,
peeve (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
miff (informal),
be on your back (slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
get in your hair (informal),
rub you up the wrong way (informal),
put your nose out of joint (informal),
get your back up,
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of irritate
Definition
to annoy or anger (someone)
Their attitude irritates me.
Synonyms
annoy,
anger,
bother,
provoke,
offend,
needle (informal),
harass,
infuriate,
aggravate (informal),
incense,
fret,
enrage,
gall,
ruffle,
inflame,
exasperate,
nettle,
pester,
vex,
irk,
pique,
rankle with,
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
drive you up the wall (slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
rub you up the wrong way (informal),
get your goat (slang),
try your patience,
get in your hair (informal),
get on your wick (informal),
get your dander up (informal),
raise your hackles,
get your back up,
get your hackles up,
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of kindle
Definition
to arouse or be aroused
These poems have helped kindle the imagination of generations of children.
Synonyms
arouse,
excite,
inspire,
stir,
thrill,
stimulate,
provoke,
induce,
awaken,
animate,
rouse,
sharpen,
inflame,
incite,
foment,
bestir,
enkindle
in the sense of madden
Definition
to make or become mad or angry
The ticking of the clock really maddens me.
Synonyms
infuriate,
irritate,
incense,
enrage,
upset,
provoke,
annoy,
aggravate (informal),
gall,
craze,
inflame,
exasperate,
vex,
unhinge,
drive you crazy,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
drive you round the bend (British, slang),
make your blood boil,
piss you off (taboo, slang),
drive you to distraction (informal),
get your goat (slang),
drive you round the twist (British, slang),
get your dander up (informal),
make your hackles rise,
raise your hackles,
drive you off your head (slang),
drive you out of your mind,
get your back up,
get your hackles up,
make you see red (informal),
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of motivate
Definition
to give a reason or inspiration for a course of action to someone
His hard work was motivated by a need to achieve.
Synonyms
inspire,
drive,
stimulate,
provoke,
lead,
move,
cause,
prompt,
stir,
trigger,
set off,
induce,
arouse,
prod,
get going,
instigate,
impel,
actuate,
give incentive to,
inspirit
in the sense of move
Definition
to cause or prompt to do something
The hearings moved me to come up with these suggestions.
Synonyms
drive,
lead,
cause,
influence,
persuade,
push,
shift,
inspire,
prompt,
stimulate,
motivate,
induce,
shove,
activate,
propel,
rouse,
prod,
incite,
impel,
set going
in the sense of occasion
Definition
to cause, esp. incidentally
The incident occasioned a full-scale parliamentary row.
Synonyms
cause,
begin,
produce,
create,
effect,
lead to,
inspire,
result in,
generate,
prompt,
provoke,
induce,
bring about,
originate,
evoke,
give rise to,
precipitate,
elicit,
incite,
engender
in the sense of offend
Definition
to hurt the feelings of (a person)
I had no intention of offending the community.
Synonyms
distress,
upset,
outrage,
pain,
wound,
slight,
provoke,
insult,
annoy,
irritate,
put down,
dismay,
snub,
aggravate (informal),
gall,
agitate,
ruffle,
disconcert,
vex,
affront,
displease,
rile,
pique,
give offence,
hurt (someone's) feelings,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
cut to the quick,
miff (informal),
tread on (someone's) toes (informal),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
put (someone's) nose out of joint,
put (someone's) back up,
disgruntle,
get (someone's) goat (slang),
hack someone off (informal)
in the sense of pique
Definition
to hurt (someone's) pride
She was piqued by his lack of enthusiasm.
Synonyms
displease,
wound,
provoke,
annoy,
get (informal),
sting,
offend,
irritate,
put out,
incense,
gall,
nettle,
vex,
affront,
mortify,
irk,
rile,
peeve (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
put someone's nose out of joint (informal),
miff (informal),
hack off (informal)
in the sense of piss someone off
Definition
to annoy or disappoint
It pisses me off when they start moaning.
Synonyms
annoy,
get (informal),
bother,
bug (informal),
irritate,
aggravate (informal),
gall,
exasperate,
vex,
irk,
get up someone's nose (informal),
get someone's back up,
get someone's dander up (informal),
hack someone off (informal)
in the sense of produce
Definition
to bring (something) into existence
Cooking with spices produces a wonderful smell.
Synonyms
cause,
lead to,
result in,
effect,
occasion (formal),
generate,
trigger,
make for,
provoke,
set off,
induce,
bring about,
give rise to,
engender
in the sense of prompt
Definition
to motivate or cause someone to do something
The recession has prompted consumers to cut back on buying cars.
Synonyms
cause,
move,
inspire,
stimulate,
occasion (formal),
urge,
spur,
provoke,
motivate,
induce,
evoke,
give rise to,
elicit,
incite,
instigate,
impel,
call forth
Additional synonyms
in the sense of put someone out
Definition
to disturb or confuse
They were quite put out to find me in charge.
Synonyms
annoy,
anger,
provoke,
irritate,
disturb,
harass,
confound,
exasperate,
disconcert,
nettle,
vex,
perturb,
irk,
put on the spot,
take the wind out of someone's sails,
discountenance,
discompose
in the sense of rile
Definition
to annoy or anger
Cancellations rarely riled him.
Synonyms
anger,
upset,
provoke,
bug (informal),
annoy,
irritate,
aggravate (informal),
gall,
nettle,
vex,
irk,
pique,
peeve (informal),
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
get your goat (slang),
try your patience,
rub you up the wrong way,
get or put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of stimulate
Definition
to encourage to start or progress further
I was stimulated to examine my deepest thoughts.
Synonyms
encourage,
inspire,
prompt,
galvanize,
fire,
fan,
urge,
spur,
provoke,
arouse,
animate,
rouse,
prod,
quicken,
inflame,
incite,
instigate,
goad,
whet,
impel,
foment,
gee up
in the sense of stir
Definition
to excite or move (someone) emotionally
I was intrigued by him, stirred by his intellect.
Synonyms
stimulate,
move,
excite,
fire,
raise,
touch,
affect,
urge,
inspire,
prompt,
spur,
thrill,
provoke,
arouse,
awaken,
animate,
rouse,
prod,
quicken,
inflame,
incite,
instigate,
electrify,
kindle
in the sense of vex
Definition
to cause (someone) to feel annoyance or irritation