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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in raises
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
rankings that are sure to provoke an argument among film buffs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provokes
Criticism triggers defensiveness; defensiveness fuels contempt; contempt provokes stonewalling.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
After a sleepy start to the second half at Old Trafford, the arrival of Benjamin Sesko, and the relocation of Cunha into a deeper position, provokes a fresh wave of interest.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
After a sleepy start to the second half at Old Trafford, the arrival of Benjamin Sesko, and the relocation of Cunha into a deeper position, provokes a fresh wave of interest.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provokes
Verb
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Combined, the ingredients are a powerhouse that encourages surface skin cell turnover to give complexions an overall smooth, supple appearance.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
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Through speculative thinking and the power of the arts, this collection encourages us to see ourselves outside of the constraints that persist today.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For Little, this raises even more questions.—
Sarah Durn,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
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In July, a geologist warned that an ongoing cluster of smaller earthquakes near the Nicobar Islands could signal a volcanic eruption in the Andaman Sea, which raises fears of another tsunami.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The chemical targets a different system in the brain than standard antidepressants, triggering the release of glutamate, which stimulates the growth of new synapses between brain cells.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
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Vähäsarja vigorously rubbed some cups on Landers’s back—cupping creates a vacuum and stimulates blood flow—and turned the whole thing bright pink.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Digestive Support Turmeric helps stimulate bile production in the gallbladder, which promotes fat digestion.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 2025
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According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide, at least 197 journalists and media workers were killed during the war; 189 of them were Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Art reigns at the Prado (home to Velázquez and Goya) and the Reina Sofía—where Picasso’s Guernica stirs the soul—but Madrid’s heartbeat is felt in the fierce rhythm of flamenco and the roar of Real Madrid fans at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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In Gemini, Uranus stirs the mind like a kaleidoscope of flashing insights and alternative solutions.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Asking for headcount often triggers a budget reflex.—
Sarah Chambers,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Although the shooting causes alarm and triggers police investigations, Serafina initially escapes direct consequences by going into hiding.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That insight has guided the team at Typhur, headquartered in San Jose at the heart of Silicon Valley, a location that inspires them to engineer precision with intuitive design.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Allison Parshall,
Scientific American,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Hills and Gribbles go to the Bush presidential library where Dale incites an incident.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provokes. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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