provoke

1 to rouse to strong feeling or action his teasing finally provoked her to anger bees generally will not sting unless they are provoked Synonyms arouse, encourage, excite, fire (up), impassion, incite, instigate, move, pique, rev (up), spark, stimulate, stir Related Words fan, ignite, inflame (also enflame), kindle, trigger; activate, animate, drive, energize, galvanize, induce, inspire, key (up), motivate, motive, pump up, quicken, set off, vitalize; abet, ferment, foment, raise, whip (up); anger, enrage, madden, upset; jeer, taunt, tease; aggravate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get, irritate, vex Phrases build a fire under Near Antonyms calm, soothe, subdue, tranquilize (also tranquillize); appease, mollify, pacify, placate

2 to bring (something volatile or intense) into being rankings that are sure to provoke an argument among film buffs Synonyms abet, brew, ferment, foment, instigate, pick, incite, raise, stir (up), whip (up)Related Words advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote, sow, stimulate; detonate, set, set off, trigger; excite, galvanize, inflame (also enflame), inspire, motivate, rouse; activate, energize, enliven, fire, invigorate, jazz (up), liven (up), pep (up), quicken, stimulate, vitalizeNear Antonyms bridle, check, constrain, curb, discourage, hold, inhibit, regulate, rein (in), restrain, tame; allay, calm, quiet, settle, soothe, still, subdue, tranquilize (also tranquillize)