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- pronunciation:
- pr
vok
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
provokes, provoking, provoked |
| definition 1: |
to incite (a person) to anger, annoyance, deep emotion, or action.
I'd never seen my father this angry, and I wondered what had provoked him.By these demonstrations, they hoped to provoke politicians into taking action.She needs complete rest, and hearing this news will only provoke her.- synonyms:
- agitate, anger, excite, irk, move, rile, stir, vex
- antonyms:
- allay, appease, calm, conciliate, placate, propitiate
- similar words:
- actuate, bait, enrage, exasperate, fire up, impel, incense, incite, induce, infuriate, motivate, needle, nettle, prompt, rouse, work
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| definition 2: |
to arouse or bring out.
The speech provoked anger in the audience.The final scene provoked tears.The intense music provokes a feeling of excitement.- synonyms:
- excite, inflame, inspire, kindle, move, stimulate, stir up
- antonyms:
- allay
- similar words:
- arouse, awaken, galvanize, rouse
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| definition 3: |
to cause or incite as a reaction.
The play provoked much criticism.His comments provoked a violent quarrel among the listeners.- synonyms:
- cause, excite, foment, foster, generate, inspire, instigate
- antonyms:
- deter
- similar words:
- activate, actuate, effect, incite, occasion, pick, produce, prompt, stir, yield
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| related words: |
abet, agitate, anger, annoy, antagonize, badger, bother, bug, challenge, dare, defy, draw, encourage, engender, evoke, excite, fan, frenzy, heckle, inflame, invite, irritate, kindle, lash, madden, miff, move, persecute, precipitate, prod, quicken, spur, tantalize, taunt, tempt, threaten, tickle, vex |
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| derivations: |
provokingly (adv.), provoker (n.) |
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