Search results
- Dictionaryprovoke/prəˈvəʊk/
verb
- 1. stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone: "the decision provoked a storm of protest from civil rights organizations" Similar Opposite
Powered by Oxford Dictionaries
to cause a reaction, especially a negative one: The prospect of increased prices has already provoked an outcry. Test results provoked worries that the reactor could overheat. Fewer examples. Her manifest lack of interest in the project has provoked severe criticism. The release from prison of two of the terrorists has provoked a public outcry.
to make or try to make a person or an animal angry: It was a vicious-looking dog and I didn't want to provoke it. He was clearly trying to get at me but I refused to be provoked. I was provoked into the argument. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases.
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.
prompted or caused by some action, behavior, or circumstance; brought about, often deliberately: His laugh was a contagious, easily provoked chuckle. A provoked bite can occur when a person teases a dog or tries to take away the dog's food while the dog is eating. verb. the simple past tense and past participle of provoke ( def ). Discover More.
provoke. [ pr uh - vohk ] Phonetic (Standard) IPA. verb (used with object) , pro·voked, pro·vok·ing. to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex. Synonyms: infuriate, exacerbate, aggravate, annoy, irk. to stir up, arouse, or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity): The mishap provoked a hearty laugh.
1. To incite to anger or resentment: taunts that provoked their rivals. 2. To stir to action or feeling: a remark that provoked me to reconsider. 3. To give rise to; bring about: a miscue that provoked laughter; news that provoked an uproar. 4. To bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.
to make or try to make a person or an animal angry: It was a vicious-looking dog and I didn't want to provoke it. He was clearly trying to get at me but I refused to be provoked. I was provoked into the argument. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases.
to say or do something that you know will annoy somebody so that they react in an angry way synonym goad. provoke somebody Be careful what you say—he's easily provoked. provoke somebody into (doing) something The lawyer claimed his client was provoked into acts of violence by the defendant.
1. verb. If you provoke someone, you deliberately annoy them and try to make them behave aggressively. He started shouting at me but I didn't do anything to provoke him. [VERB noun] I provoked him into doing something really stupid. [VERB noun + into] Synonyms: anger, insult, annoy, offend More Synonyms of provoke. 2. verb.
1 provoke something to cause a particular reaction or have a particular effect The announcement provoked a storm of protest. The article was intended to provoke discussion. Dairy products may provoke allergic reactions in some people.
