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
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provoked
Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
No team in Europe’s top five leagues have provoked more offsides than Barcelona this season (42), so far at an even higher rate — over five per game — than their record-breaking tally last time around.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Mazrui’s essay provoked a strong reaction.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Charging documents filed in the case allege that Sanchez provoked a fight with a 69-year-old man working for a cooking oil recycling service.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 6 Oct. 2025
Its inauguration has provoked as much controversy as excitement.
—Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
Republicans provoked a shutdown at the exact same point in the calendar in 2013 over defunding Obamacare — and the polls at that time were bad for the GOP.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Yet, as many observers predicted, attempts to extend transatlantic cohesion through NATO expansion ultimately provoked a Russian reaction that a transatlantic relationship premised on economic cooperation might not have had.
—Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
The audience laughed, then a few hours later, its minds and anxieties provoked, spilled out into the warm September air a little heavier for the wear.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Hamas is a terrorist group that provoked a terrible war by massacring civilians.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
No team in Europe’s top five leagues have provoked more offsides than Barcelona this season (42), so far at an even higher rate — over five per game — than their record-breaking tally last time around.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Mazrui’s essay provoked a strong reaction.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Charging documents filed in the case allege that Sanchez provoked a fight with a 69-year-old man working for a cooking oil recycling service.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 6 Oct. 2025
Its inauguration has provoked as much controversy as excitement.
—Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
Republicans provoked a shutdown at the exact same point in the calendar in 2013 over defunding Obamacare — and the polls at that time were bad for the GOP.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Yet, as many observers predicted, attempts to extend transatlantic cohesion through NATO expansion ultimately provoked a Russian reaction that a transatlantic relationship premised on economic cooperation might not have had.
—Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
The audience laughed, then a few hours later, its minds and anxieties provoked, spilled out into the warm September air a little heavier for the wear.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provoked
Verb
-
Lastly, the scholars chalk the tremendous success of the books up to Rowling’s evocative writing, which encouraged young readers to be creative while holding their attention for long periods of time.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Those who noticed the quake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The war has also triggered other conflicts in the region, sparked worldwide protests and led to allegations of genocide that Israel denies.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The blast triggered secondary explosions that forced rescuers to keep their distance from the burning site.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The man Smith is facing charges of capital murder and aggravated assault, sheriff’s records show.—
TJ Macias,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Prosecutors have charged Robinson with seven counts, including aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty, felony firearms charges, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and committing violence in the presence of a child.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The team also hopes to explore whether microscopic scaffolds can guide human cell growth and if the body can be stimulated to complete tissue regeneration once printing begins.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
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But dogs still need ways to burn off energy and stay mentally stimulated.—
Kelsey Monstrola,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Trent and Amber wed in 1998, and the couple raised their five kids in Forsyth, Ga.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The entrepreneur and yoga instructor has previously spoken out about facing criticism over the authenticity of her Spanish accent (she was raised bilingual).—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Fat Joe said that a frustrated Bruno removed himself from the conversation and went to sit on the other side of the venue at the unspecified awards show.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
10 Oct. 2025
-
And so Ben Richards, in the book, is very frustrated with the system.—
Abbey White,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Whether they’re baked or simply stirred together, dips are the heroes of any Southern get together.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The ghosts of playoff games past stirred in the old ballpark.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Back then, a single team coming together to put a pair of climbers on a summit incited national celebration.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Raven’s marvel of a case study recapitulates the dissonance whereby cycles—political, social, structural, ecological—continue, monuments are created and destroyed and momentum is incited and frustrated, all while costs continue to mount.—
Anne Reeve,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provoked. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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