1
as in encouraged
to rouse to strong feeling or action
his teasing finally provoked her to anger bees generally will not sting unless they are provoked
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in triggered
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
rankings that are sure to provoke an argument among film buffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in aggravated
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provoked
Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Not retaining his services would have provoked outrage.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
The assault provoked a crisis that Kushner and Witkoff were determined not to waste.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
But the forcefulness of pastors' rhetoric about Kirk has provoked conflicting feelings for some believers.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 22 Oct. 2025
The culling of federal agencies has provoked stern warnings from nonprofit groups and other organizations that work to protect public lands and the agencies that manage them.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 20 Oct. 2025
However, model studies predicted that strengthening westerly winds, provoked by climate change, would cause this CO₂-dense water to finally break to the surface.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2025
For more than half a century, Martin Scorsese has surprised and provoked, shocked and illuminated, and – of course – entertained America, as few other filmmakers ever have.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
On the far east side of Michigan, the future of fluoride in drinking water — long an ordinary practice for preventing tooth decay — has suddenly provoked passionate debate.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The operation involved dozens of federal agents and provoked protests from bystanders, the Associated Press reported.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Not retaining his services would have provoked outrage.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
The assault provoked a crisis that Kushner and Witkoff were determined not to waste.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
But the forcefulness of pastors' rhetoric about Kirk has provoked conflicting feelings for some believers.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 22 Oct. 2025
The culling of federal agencies has provoked stern warnings from nonprofit groups and other organizations that work to protect public lands and the agencies that manage them.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 20 Oct. 2025
However, model studies predicted that strengthening westerly winds, provoked by climate change, would cause this CO₂-dense water to finally break to the surface.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2025
For more than half a century, Martin Scorsese has surprised and provoked, shocked and illuminated, and – of course – entertained America, as few other filmmakers ever have.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
On the far east side of Michigan, the future of fluoride in drinking water — long an ordinary practice for preventing tooth decay — has suddenly provoked passionate debate.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provoked
Verb
-
Maintaining positive ties with South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung would continue the lattice-like foreign policy encouraged by Washington, one that favors multilateral cooperation among like-minded nations over bilateral dependence.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Electric telegraph lines and railroads encouraged and were encouraged by a new age of imperial expansion, commodity extraction, industrialization, urban growth, global migration, rising population, and scientific development, among other things.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While news of that lifeline briefly triggered a sharp rally earlier this month, the peso has since given up those gains and has tumbled by more than 40% against the greenback so far this year.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Since then, there was only one ‘dip’ in form all season in 2023-24, triggered by back-to-back losses to West Ham and Fulham.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting and arraigned on Sept. 16 on seven felony charges, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice and witness tampering.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The man Smith is facing charges of capital murder and aggravated assault, sheriff’s records show.—
TJ Macias,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Puzzle and activity feeders mimic natural hunting behavior and keep cats mentally stimulated.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The team also hopes to explore whether microscopic scaffolds can guide human cell growth and if the body can be stimulated to complete tissue regeneration once printing begins.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
During the president’s first term in office, his officials raised alarms about Beijing’s growing technological prowess, its military buildup, and its dominance over the critical minerals industry.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
This week, faced with the prospect of losing SNAP assistance and the stress of the holidays around the corner, Gabrielle, a West Virginia resident, reluctantly raised her hand in a community Facebook group.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
His insistence on a raise, while CSX shares fell, frustrated directors this spring.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Over the past several weeks, a handful of frustrated pet owners were able to retrieve the bodies of their pets from Angel Paws with the help of sheriff’s deputies and others.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For the next 10 to 48 hours, the paste is gently stirred over very low heat, a step that cooks away any excess bitterness, acidity, and liquid.—
Aleksandra Crapanzano,
The Atlantic,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The news has stirred mixed reactions on social media.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Halloween was just around the corner, and the Tylenol murders incited panic among parents who feared trick-or-treat candy could be laced with poison or razors.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Earlier this year, the Parenthood alum incited anger for sharing a NSFW post of Bell doing nude yoga to celebrate the news of her Nobody Wants This Emmy nomination.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provoked. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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