provoke
To make someone feel a strong emotion, especially anger or surprise.
To cause a strong emotional reaction in someone, especially anger, shock, or annoyance.
To make a certain thing happen, often something bad like a problem or conflict.
To cause a particular event or situation to happen, especially something serious, difficult, or undesirable.
To try on purpose to make someone angry or make them do something, often by teasing or bothering them.
To deliberately annoy, tease, or challenge someone in order to make them angry or to make them react, often aggressively.
To make people think a lot or talk a lot about something.
To cause people to think carefully about something or to start a discussion or debate.
- Base: provoke
- 3rd Person Singular: provokes
- Present Participle: provoking
- Past: provoked
provoke a backlash
1Cause strong negative pushback
To make many people strongly react against something, often after a change or action.
- The new policy has provoked a backlash from teachers' unions.
- The celebrity's comments quickly provoked a backlash online.
provoke a crisis
1Cause a serious crisis
To make a very serious problem or difficult situation start.
- The scandal has provoked a crisis inside the ruling party.
- The sudden currency fall could provoke a financial crisis.
provoke a reaction
1Cause some kind of response
To make people respond in some clear way, for example by speaking, acting, or showing emotion.
- The advertisement was designed to provoke a reaction from young viewers.
- His comment clearly provoked a reaction, as the room fell silent.
provoke a response
1Make someone reply or react
To make a person or group answer, react, or do something.
- The letter failed to provoke any response from the company.
- His remark immediately provoked a sharp response from the chairwoman.
provoke a war
1Cause a war to begin
To make a war start between countries or groups.
- The attack on the border nearly provoked a war.
- They warned that such actions could provoke a war in the region.
provoke criticism
1Cause people to criticize
To make people say that they do not like something or think it is wrong.
- The government's plan has provoked strong criticism from experts.
- The ad campaign provoked criticism for using sexist images.
provoke debate
1Cause serious discussion
To make people start talking and arguing about a subject.
- The documentary has provoked debate about animal testing.
- The study is likely to provoke debate among scientists.
provoke laughter
1Cause people to laugh
To make people laugh.
- His silly dance moves provoked loud laughter from the crowd.
- The comedian's first joke failed to provoke much laughter.
provoke outrage
1Cause widespread shock and anger
To make many people extremely angry or shocked.
- The court's decision has provoked outrage across the country.
- The leaked video provoked outrage on social media.
provoke someone into doing something
1Anger or push someone to act
To make someone do something, often something bad or sudden, by making them angry or by challenging them.
- The crowd tried to provoke the police into using force.
- She was clearly trying to provoke him into saying something he would regret.
provoke anger
1Cause someone to become angry
To make people feel angry.
- The decision to cut benefits has provoked anger among local residents.
- Her unfair remarks provoked anger in the whole team.
provoke anger
2Cause someone to be angry
To make someone feel upset or mad.
- The comments provoked public anger.
- His actions provoked her anger.