provoke
verb
pro·voke prə-ˈvōk 
provoked; provoking
transitive verb
1
a
: to call forth (a feeling, an action, etc.) : evoke
provoke laughter
b
: to stir up purposely
provoke a fight
c
: to provide the needed stimulus for
will provoke a lot of discussion
2
a
: to incite to anger
b
archaic : to arouse to a feeling or action
provoker noun
Synonyms
- arouse
- encourage
- excite
- fire (up)
- impassion
- incite
- instigate
- move
- pique
- rev (up)
- spark
- stimulate
- stir
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
His remarks provoked both tears and laughter. He just says those things because he's trying to provoke you. The animal will not attack unless it is provoked.
Recent Examples on the Web His pleas for permission to battle the Crabfeeder go ignored, out of fear that this would provoke open war with the powerful Free Cities that fund the warlord’s fleet. 
Sean T. Collins, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2022 Like a war-hungry defense department, Corlys will settle only for military conquest, despite the council’s advice that such a conflict would provoke the Free Cities. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 28 Aug. 2022 Medical staff lived in permanent fear that patients would provoke the soldiers. WSJ, 14 Aug. 2022 Asked Wednesday if Finland would provoke Russia by joining NATO, Niinistö said Putin would be to blame. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 12 May 2022 But the world is better for it, as these actions would almost certainly provoke a more dangerous conflict with a nuclear power. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 5 Mar. 2022 Smith’s fictitious story about knife-wielding panhandlers stoked unfounded fears about people experiencing homelessness, leading to concerns the crime would provoke confrontations. Alex Mann, baltimoresun.com, 28 Feb. 2022 Among other things, that could concern material that if disclosed could provoke hostilities against the U.S. or its allies or disrupt U.S. foreign relations in a way that undermines national security. Dustin Volz, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 The National Weather Service warned that slow-moving showers and thunderstorms could provoke more flash flooding through Tuesday morning along waterways swollen by Sunday’s heavy rain, a dismal coda to last week’s historic floods. Bruce Schreiner And Rebecca Reynolds, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Aug. 2022 See More
Sean T. Collins, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2022 Like a war-hungry defense department, Corlys will settle only for military conquest, despite the council’s advice that such a conflict would provoke the Free Cities. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 28 Aug. 2022 Medical staff lived in permanent fear that patients would provoke the soldiers. WSJ, 14 Aug. 2022 Asked Wednesday if Finland would provoke Russia by joining NATO, Niinistö said Putin would be to blame. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 12 May 2022 But the world is better for it, as these actions would almost certainly provoke a more dangerous conflict with a nuclear power. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 5 Mar. 2022 Smith’s fictitious story about knife-wielding panhandlers stoked unfounded fears about people experiencing homelessness, leading to concerns the crime would provoke confrontations. Alex Mann, baltimoresun.com, 28 Feb. 2022 Among other things, that could concern material that if disclosed could provoke hostilities against the U.S. or its allies or disrupt U.S. foreign relations in a way that undermines national security. Dustin Volz, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 The National Weather Service warned that slow-moving showers and thunderstorms could provoke more flash flooding through Tuesday morning along waterways swollen by Sunday’s heavy rain, a dismal coda to last week’s historic floods. Bruce Schreiner And Rebecca Reynolds, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French *provoker, provocher, from Latin provocare, from pro- forth + vocare to call, from voc-, vox voice — more at pro-, voice
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b
Kids Definition
provoke
verb
pro·voke prə-ˈvōk
provoked; provoking
1
: to cause to become angry
Don't provoke your sister.
2
: to bring about
The joke provoked a smile.
Medical Definition
provoke
transitive verb
pro·voke prə-ˈvōk
provoked; provoking
: to induce (a physical reaction)
ipecac provokes vomiting
Legal Definition
provoke
transitive verb
pro·voke prə-ˈvōk
provoked; provoking
1
: to incite to anger
2
: to provide the needed stimulus for
provokes
verb
1
as in encourages
to rouse to strong feeling or action his teasing finally provoked her to anger bees generally will not sting unless they are provoked Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- encourages
- stimulates
- stirs
- inspires
- arouses
- incites
- sparks
- induces
- motivates
- instigates
- excites
- moves
- triggers
- drives
- piques
- motives
- ignites
- impassions
- activates
- angers
- galvanizes
- inflames
- animates
- energizes
- foments
- enrages
- bothers
- fires (up)
- quickens
- kindles
- raises
- builds a fire under
- revs (up)
- vitalizes
- enflames
- fans
- taunts
- gets
- aggravates
- sets off
- abets
- upsets
- irritates
- annoys
- teases
- exasperates
- ferments
- pumps up
- jeers
- maddens
- vexes
- whips (up)
- keys (up)
- galls
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- calms
- soothes
- subdues
- appeases
- placates
- pacifies
- mollifies
- tranquilizes
- tranquillizes
2
as in raises
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being rankings that are sure to provoke an argument among film buffs Synonyms & Similar Words
- raises
- encourages
- promotes
- triggers
- incites
- stimulates
- instigates
- foments
- cultivates
- stimulates
- abets
- inspires
- ferments
- picks
- brews
- fosters
- motivates
- nurtures
- furthers
- stirs (up)
- whips (up)
- sets in motion
- nourishes
- rouses
- excites
- activates
- galvanizes
- detonates
- inflames
- sows
- advances
- forwards
- sets off
- energizes
- invigorates
- enlivens
- sets
- quickens
- enflames
- vitalizes
- fires
- peps (up)
- jazzes (up)
- livens (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inhibits
- discourages
- holds
- restrains
- regulates
- constrains
- tames
- curbs
- reins (in)
- checks
- calms
- soothes
- subdues
- quiets
- settles
- allays
- bridles
- stills
- tranquilizes
- tranquillizes
- spinaciae
- spinacias
- spinae externae
- spinae internae
- spinage dock
- spinages
- spinal
- spinal canal
- spinal cavity
- spinal column
- spinal columns
- spinal cord
- spinal cords
- spinal foramen
- spinal ganglia
- spinal ganglion
- spinal marrow
- spinal nerve
- spinal nerves
- spinal tap
- spinaler
- spinalest
- spinaller
- spinallest
- spinallier