1
as in encouraged
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 triggered
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
rankings that are sure to provoke an argument among film buffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in aggravated
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provoked
Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
His 1954 run for governor in Connecticut provoked questions about whether the state was ready for a Jewish governor.
—Arthur House, Hartford Courant, 30 Dec. 2024
Could a second season really recapture the visceral emotions provoked by that unpredictability?
—Kayti Burt, TIME, 26 Dec. 2024
But few things provoked a more consistently ambivalent posture from Buckley than populism.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 19 Dec. 2024
The funding debacle has provoked questions about Speaker Johnson’s future and whether someone else is better equipped to lead the House GOP conference in the next Congress.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2024
The war had already begun to shift northward, provoked by Hezbollah’s late July rocket attack on a soccer field in the Golan Heights, which killed 12 children and injured over 40.
—Amos Yadlin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Dec. 2024
The confessional nature of brat also provoked a lot of the remix collaborators to match that.
—Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024
The acquittal provoked anger and mistrust of the justice system among many Hartford residents, according to news reports at the time.
—Renata Daou, Hartford Courant, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
The incident was caught on video, making waves online and on local TV news, and provoked an outcry from fellow residents.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
His 1954 run for governor in Connecticut provoked questions about whether the state was ready for a Jewish governor.
—Arthur House, Hartford Courant, 30 Dec. 2024
Could a second season really recapture the visceral emotions provoked by that unpredictability?
—Kayti Burt, TIME, 26 Dec. 2024
But few things provoked a more consistently ambivalent posture from Buckley than populism.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 19 Dec. 2024
The funding debacle has provoked questions about Speaker Johnson’s future and whether someone else is better equipped to lead the House GOP conference in the next Congress.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2024
The war had already begun to shift northward, provoked by Hezbollah’s late July rocket attack on a soccer field in the Golan Heights, which killed 12 children and injured over 40.
—Amos Yadlin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Dec. 2024
The confessional nature of brat also provoked a lot of the remix collaborators to match that.
—Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024
The acquittal provoked anger and mistrust of the justice system among many Hartford residents, according to news reports at the time.
—Renata Daou, Hartford Courant, 16 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provoked
Verb
-
Before the Democratic National Convention in 1912, McCombs encouraged prominent journalists and editors to write articles supportive of Wilson's nomination.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
22 Mar. 2025
-
The party has dismissed the raucous town halls in conservative districts as the work of liberal activist groups, which have encouraged people to flood public forums in an attempt to highlight frustrations with the administration.—
Riley Beggin,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
An Atchison woman was found guilty of aggravated endangering a child in Leavenworth County court Wednesday in connection to the death of her 18-month-old daughter.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
13 Aug. 2025
-
He was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated manslaughter, two counts of vehicular homicide, evidence tampering and leaving the scene of an accident.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
His son, Kenneth, moved meat packing plants to where his cattle were raised and saw profits soar.—
Patrick Saunders,
The Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2025
-
He was born and raised in southeast Missouri.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The trend comes as many of the young adults of Gen Z — digital natives who came of age during the pandemic — have become frustrated with modern socializing.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Leaders notice when someone can pause—whether stressed, frustrated, anxious or overly excited—and check their emotions before responding.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This move has stirred controversy and concern amongst community leaders in New Orleans, a city with a historically high homicide rate.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Jan. 2025
-
Musk usefully stirred the pot on this issue.—
The Editors,
National Review,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Remember our history In 1923, Hitler incited an insurrection against the German government.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Only days prior, the Brooklyn Museum made moves to eliminate 20 staffers, including 14 unionized workers, a decision that incited outrage and a legal challenge from the group’s representative, Local 2110 United Auto Workers.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
He was promoted to assistant city manager in 2013.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacramento Bee,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Pippen was promoted from his two-way deal to a roster contract and has played every game for a team with the second-best record in the West.—
Eric Koreen,
The Athletic,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Take a dive into the deep end, and keep scrolling to shop more one-piece bathing suits inspired by Kate Hudson now.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
People.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
What inspired you to start the Latinx Education Collaborative?—
J.M. Banks,
Kansas City Star,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provoked. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
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