Synonyms

provoke

American

[pruh-vohk] / prəˈvoʊk /

verb (used with object)

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.

Synonyms:

instigate, rouse
to incite or stimulate (a person, animal, etc.) to action.
to give rise to, induce, or bring about.

What could have provoked such an incident?
Obsolete. to summon.

provoke British

/ prəˈvəʊk /

verb

to anger or infuriate
to cause to act or behave in a certain manner; incite or stimulate
to promote (certain feelings, esp anger, indignation, etc) in a person
obsolete to summon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See irritate. See incite.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of provoke

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin prōvocāre “to call forth, challenge, provoke,” equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + vocāre “to call”; akin to vōx voice

Explanation

Anything that brings about a strong reaction can be said to provoke. You can provoke that lion if you want. But if he responds by attacking, don't come running to me. Let's consider some people who have been known to provoke. Lenny Bruce, was more than just a comedian. He was a "provocateur" who used humor to deliver his controversial diatribes. Humor was his way to provoke people to think. Madonna made her name not only by producing a memorable catalogue of great pop songs, she proved herself to be a master at provoking people through her outrageous attire and lyrics. The moral of this story? It's possible to provoke both positive and negative responses.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Millions of Americans lose their jobs every year because of corporate decisions, and most of them don’t provoke it by criticizing their employer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

What is clear is that Nowak's family did not want their son's death to provoke an angry conversation about race, or divide the country.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Such moves could provoke concerns that Nvidia doesn’t see opportunities to reinvest in its own business.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

In a time where edgy influencers like Clavicular and HSTikkyTokky are reposted, shared, and platformed for their ability to provoke, morality is bartered for popularity.

From Slate • May 12, 2026

He knew Snape was trying to provoke him; he had done this before.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023