How to Use provoke in a Sentence

provoke

verb

• He just says those things because he's trying to provoke you.
• His remarks provoked both tears and laughter.
• The animal will not attack unless it is provoked.
• This provokes the ire of Tedros, who slaps him hard across the face.
  — Katcy Stephan, Variety, 18 June 2023
• The moon’s clash with Leo provokes emotional ups and downs.
  — USA TODAY, 9 July 2024
• The moon’s clash with Mars provokes high-drama moments.
  — USA TODAY, 1 June 2023
• Pushing the people in your domestic sphere to bend to your will could provoke them to rebel.
  — Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2022
• The second-chorus scene in the hospital nursery, the singer dressed in scrubs and talking with the doctor, provoked some of the tears in the room.
  — Tom Roland, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2023
• To be provoked at all by Aggro Dr1ft, or Harmony Korine, is to take the bait.
  — John Semley, WIRED, 9 Oct. 2023
• And Europe’s largest armed conflict since the end of the world war, provoked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  — Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Sep. 2023
• The story repeated to those in mourning may not provoke a smile.
  — George Castle, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022
• Provocation Also, ask what makes the pain worse, or provokes it.
  — Jenny Sweigard, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2024
• She was conflicted about what to do - whether to cut it off or continue so as not to provoke him.
  — BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2023
• Those who did talk with Variety all agreed that the best defense is to avoid provoking fandoms in the first place.
  — Adam B. Vary, Variety, 3 Oct. 2024
• The Halloween Tree is a heartwarming and thought provoking story that both kids and adults can learn from.
  — Anna Mahan, Country Living, 29 Aug. 2023
• The fact that the stone bridge was underwater provokes the question of its preservation.
  — Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 5 Sep. 2024
• The return to payments is likely to provoke more defaults.
  — Eleni Schirmer, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2023
• But its run was short-lived, as the ad was subjected to backlash, provoking calls for boycotts and bomb threats against Ikea stores.
  — Taylor Telford, Washington Post, 16 June 2023
• Start with a cozy cool manicure—and perhaps a sip of the warming latte that provoked the polish job.
  — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2023
• But the public perception is that shaming people for their size will provoke them to lose weight.
  — Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 27 July 2022
• Sanford Gifford’s Sketch on the Roman Campagna, a precious gem from 1868, provoked not a peep.
  — Brian T. Allen, National Review, 27 Jan. 2024
• Is China willing, much less prepared, to provoke armed conflict with the United States over a co-del?
  — Matthew Continetti, National Review, 30 July 2022
• Your efforts to improve your health could provoke awkwardness with your friends at this time.
  — Chicago Tribune, 12 Nov. 2022
• Sarah provokes Bananas and things devolve quickly from there, causing Bananas to just get up and leave.
  — Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2023
• Some sea cucumbers are also known to shoot out a tangle of sticky, noodle-like goo from their butts when provoked.
  — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Nov. 2023
• At the core of Killers of the Flower Moon is their relationship, a union sure to provoke heated debate on themes of race, love and betrayal.
  — Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 May 2023
• He was attracted to the project to understand the angst that led the teenagers to kill themselves and the soul-searching that this tragedy provoked in their parents and grandparents.
  — Martin Dale, Variety, 21 May 2024
• The case has provoked public outrage and reopened debate about the status of women in China.
  — Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2023
• Its hesitation stemmed from fears that allowing Ukraine to carry out the strikes would involve the U.S. more directly in the conflict and provoke a harsh response from Putin, who has long threatened to deploy nuclear weapons in the conflict.
  — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2024
• While meandering Mercury in your sign provokes rigid Saturn in your 4th House of Roots, you’ll potentially be reminded of a situation where you were pushed to grow old before your time.
  — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Nov. 2024

Last Updated: 13 Dec 2024