How to Use provoke in a Sentence

provoke

verb

• He just says those things because he's trying to provoke you.
• His remarks provoked both tears and laughter.
• The animal will not attack unless it is provoked.
• This provokes the ire of Tedros, who slaps him hard across the face.
  — Katcy Stephan, Variety, 18 June 2023
• But the White House fears this would provoke Mr. Putin.
  — The Editorial Board, WSJ, 17 Dec. 2021
• Is the prize ripe enough to provoke Beijing to start a war?
  — George Calhoun, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021
• Stop in for one-of-a-kind pieces designed to provoke all the senses.
  — Hannah Morrill, Marie Claire, 8 Mar. 2021
• Maybe he was provoked by the color of the girl’s orange skirt?
  — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2025
• Think of it this way—the purpose of video content is to provoke, evoke and poke.
  — Jane Hanson, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2021
• And for those who are better off, that might just provoke a bit of guilt.
  — Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 3 June 2021
• Mace clearly knows how to please—and provoke—people on both sides of the aisle.
  — Will Yakowicz, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2022
• The vaccine was even able to provoke a response to the South African variant, but not as strong.
  — Miriam Fauzia, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2021
• One thing is clear though, Musk continues to provoke the ire of the SEC with such statements.
  — Anat Alon-Beck, Forbes, 13 May 2022
• The moon’s clash with Leo provokes emotional ups and downs.
  — USA TODAY, 9 July 2024
• The moon’s clash with Mars provokes high-drama moments.
  — USA TODAY, 1 June 2023
• And didn’t the rioters provoke all of this by setting Paris aflame?
  — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
• On Bannon’s podcast, Vance said the point of the ad was to provoke criticism.
  — Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 17 Apr. 2022
• Pushing the people in your domestic sphere to bend to your will could provoke them to rebel.
  — Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2022
• The second-chorus scene in the hospital nursery, the singer dressed in scrubs and talking with the doctor, provoked some of the tears in the room.
  — Tom Roland, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2023
• To be provoked at all by Aggro Dr1ft, or Harmony Korine, is to take the bait.
  — John Semley, WIRED, 9 Oct. 2023
• And Europe’s largest armed conflict since the end of the world war, provoked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  — Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Sep. 2023
• Crump has said Blake didn’t provoke police and was trying to break up an argument at the time of the shooting.
  — Joe Walsh, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2021
• And nor is Stanford’s list the only one sure to provoke that reaction.
  — Suzanne Nossel, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2025
• The story repeated to those in mourning may not provoke a smile.
  — George Castle, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022
• Neither coach Gard nor his staff had any intent to provoke or incite any of what took place.
  — Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2022
• Neither Coach Gard nor his staff had any intent to provoke or incite any of what took place.
  — Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, 22 Feb. 2022
• Heavy winds that provoke a marine gale warning are the bane of all fishermen.
  — John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 26 June 2021
• Provocation Also, ask what makes the pain worse, or provokes it.
  — Jenny Sweigard, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2024
• While rare, there have been cases of attacks on humans when provoked or during spearfishing when blood or movement may trigger their instincts.
  — Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
• Leaders of the protests would be responsible for the deaths and injuries that occurred if Trump’s military response provoked violent riots, or worse if the police opened fire on civilians.
  — Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 22 June 2025