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1. Dictionary

   provoke

   /prəˈvəʊk/

   verb

   • 1. stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone: "the decision provoked a storm of protest from civil rights organizations" Similar arouseproduceevokecausegive rise tooccasioncall forthdraw forthelicitinduceinspireexcitespark offtouch offkindlegenerateengenderinstigateresult inlead tobring oncontribute tomake forfosterpromotebreedprecipitateprompttriggerliterary:begetenkindleOpposite allay
   • ▪ stimulate or incite (someone) to do or feel something, especially by arousing anger in them: "a teacher can provoke you into working harder" Similar goadspurprickstingprodegg onhoundbadgerinciterousestirmovestimulatemotivateexciteinflamework/fire upimpelpressurepressurizepromptinduceencourageurgeinspireOpposite deter
   • ▪ deliberately make (someone) annoyed or angry: "Rachel refused to be provoked" Similar annoymake angryangerincenseenragesend into a rageirritateinfuriateexasperateexacerbatemaddenpiquenettleget/take a rise out ofbotherupsetagitatevexirkgallget/put someone's back upget on someone's nervesruffleruffle someone's feathersmake someone's hackles riseraise someone's hacklesmake someone's blood boilrub up the wrong wayput someone outharassharryplaguemolestteasetaunttormentaffrontinsultoffendinformal:peeveaggravatehasslemiffrileneedlegetget tobughack offget under someone's skinget in someone's hairget someone's goatget across someoneget on someone's wickgive someone the humpwind upnarkget up someone's noserankleridegravelvulgar slang:piss offget on someone's titsOpposite pacifyappease

   Word Origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘invoke, summon’): from Old French provoquer, from Latin provocare ‘challenge’, from pro- ‘forth’ + vocare ‘to call’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. provokable adjective
   • 2. provoker noun

   Scrabble Points: 16

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishPROVOKE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   PROVOKE definition: 1. to cause a reaction, especially a negative one: 2. to make or try to make a person or an animal…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › provokeProvoke Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › provoke

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   Oct 5, 2012 · The meaning of PROVOKE is to call forth (a feeling, an action, etc.) : evoke. How to use provoke in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Provoke.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryPROVOKE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   PROVOKE meaning: 1. to cause a reaction, especially a negative one: 2. to make or try to make a person or an animal…. Learn more.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishPROVOKE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   If you provoke someone, you deliberately annoy them and try to make them behave aggressively.

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishprovoke verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   provoke something to cause a particular reaction or have a particular effect. The announcement provoked a storm of protest. The article was intended to provoke discussion. Dairy products may provoke allergic reactions in some people.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › provokeProvoke - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › provoke

   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.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › provokeProvoke - definition of provoke by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › provoke

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   1. To incite to anger or resentment: taunts that provoked their rivals. 2. To stir to action or feeling: a remark that provoked me to reconsider. 3. To give rise to; bring about: a miscue that provoked laughter; news that provoked an uproar. 4. To bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryPROVOKE | definition in the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   PROVOKE meaning: 1. to cause a strong and usually angry reaction: 2. to intentionally make someone angry so that…. Learn more.

10. www.britannica.com › dictionary › provokeProvoke Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

    www.britannica.com › dictionary › provoke

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    PROVOKE meaning: 1 : to cause the occurrence of (a feeling or action) to make (something) happen; 2 : to cause (a person or animal) to become angry, violent, etc. sometimes + into.

11. www.oed.com › dictionary › provoke_vprovoke, v. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English...

    www.oed.com › dictionary › provoke_v

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    What does the verb provoke mean? There are nine meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb provoke, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. provoke has developed meanings and uses in subjects including. law (Middle English) ecclesiastical law (mid 1500s) ecclesiastical (mid 1500s)