Entry Word: provocation

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 something that arouses a strong response from another <Dad only gets angry from the greatest of provocations>

Synonyms excitement, incitement, instigation, stimulant, stimulation, stimulus

Related Words encouragement, goad, incentive, inducement, jog, prod, spur; induction, inspiration, motivation; aggravation, annoyance, bother, exasperation, frustration, hassle, headache, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest

Near Antonyms subduing

2 something that arouses action or activity <ready to retaliate at the slightest provocation> — see impulse