provoke
[verb]
Synonyms:
- anger, aggravate (informal), annoy, enrage, hassle (informal), incense, infuriate, irk, irritate, madden, rile
- cause, bring about, elicit, evoke, incite, induce, occasion, produce, promote, prompt, rouse, stir

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Antonyms: gratify
Contrasted words: calm, relax, soothe
Related Idioms: bring (one) to one's feet
Related Words: insult, outrage, anger, incense, madden, perturb, upset, arouse, awaken, bestir, build up, challenge, kindle, rally, stir, wake, waken, whet, animate, exalt, fire, inform, inspire, electrify, enthuse, thrill, titillate, titivate

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

pro‧voke /prəˈvəʊk $ -ˈvoʊk/ verb [transitive]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: provoquer, from Latin provocare, from vocare 'to call']

1. to cause a reaction or feeling, especially a sudden one ⇒ provocation
provoke a protest/an outcry/criticism etc
The proposal provoked widespread criticism.
The decision to invade provoked storms of protest.
provoke debate/discussion
The novel has provoked fierce debate in the US.
provoke somebody into (doing) something
She hopes her editorial will provoke readers into thinking seriously about the issue.
provoke somebody to do something
Emma, though still at school, was provoked to help too.

2. to make someone angry, especially deliberately:
The dog would not have attacked if it hadn’t been provoked.
provoke somebody into (doing) something
Paul tried to provoke Fletch into a fight.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

provoke
verb
ADV. deliberately | inevitably The suggestion inevitably provoked outrage from student leaders.
immediately | eventually, finally
VERB + PROVOKE try to | be likely to The report is likely to provoke discussion of this issue.
be designed to, be intended to
PREP. into She had been trying to provoke her sister into an argument.
to Their laughter provoked him to anger.
PHRASES be easily provoked He was sensitive and easily provoked.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

provoke

provoke a reaction/response
The report provoked a furious reaction from staff.
provoke debate/discussion/controversy
A new book criticising Hollywood has provoked fierce debate in the US.
provoke criticism
The introduction of the tax provoked widespread criticism.
provoke protest(s)/an outcry
Not surprisingly, the new rules have provoked protests from gun owners.
The crackdown provoked an international outcry.
provoke anger/outrage
His detention has provoked the anger of his supporters.
provoke opposition
The government's proposals provoked widespread backbench opposition.
provoke hostility
Aggressive behaviour provokes hostility.
provoke violence
It was a small incident but it provoked weeks of violence.
provoke interest
Their campaign provoked great interest.
provoke laughter
Sara's remark provoked faint laughter.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲