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

Choose the Right Synonym for provoke

provoke, excite, stimulate, pique, quicken mean to arouse as if by pricking.

provoke directs attention to the response called forth.

my stories usually provoke laughter

excite implies a stirring up or moving profoundly.

news that excited anger and frustration

stimulate suggests a rousing out of lethargy, quiescence, or indifference.

stimulating conversation

pique suggests stimulating by mild irritation or challenge.

that remark piqued my interest

quicken implies beneficially stimulating and making active or lively.

the high salary quickened her desire to have the job

synonyms see in addition irritate

Examples of provoke in a Sentence

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

For family offices, there’s a parallel to be drawn: surveys and polls can provoke different emotions depending on how they’re framed and presented. —Francois Botha, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

That decision would provoke in turn Russian countermeasures, perhaps nuclear. —Shane Croucher, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024

Musée Carnavalet/Roger Viollet, via Getty Images In response, the culture minister lately provoked criticism, most notably from Church leaders, by suggesting tourists pay an entrance fee to the cathedral that would go toward fixing other religious sites. —Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024

For others, however, these statements provoked further questions: was the ambiguity of wording in the regulations strategic and designed to allow authorities to ban the paquete in the future? —Laura-Zoë Humphreys and Daymar Valdés Frigola / Made By History, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024

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 excite to anger

2

: to stir up : bring about

provoke an argument

Etymology

Middle English provoken "to arouse to strong feeling or action," from early French provoquer (same meaning), from Latin provocare "to call forth, stir up," from pro- "forth, forward" and vocare "to call" — related to advocate, revoke, vocation

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

provoker noun