provoked 1 of 2

adjective

as in aggravated

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provoked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of provoke
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

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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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of provoked
Verb
The comment at a rally last Sunday titillated, provoked and enraged different audiences simultaneously, all but guaranteeing saturation news coverage and even more attention. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026 The incidents had provoked international scrutiny of the country’s assault on Gaza. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 19 Aug. 2026 In 2023, Spitze provoked his mother's boyfriend into shooting him inside their home, prosecutors said. — Mike Levine, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 There is no doubt today that China’s control of rare earths represents a powerful weapon—one that has provoked worldwide alarm and a race to secure alternatives. — Gloria Xiong, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 The sources added that the relationship breakdown also provoked serious concerns about the wellbeing of the senior colleague. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026 Even the smaller discoveries, like the shovel found in the rock area, provoked the kind of reflection that Idaho Public Archaeology hopes to spur. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2026 Users of virtual companions protest, seek alternatives The loss of virtual companions has provoked a flood of complaints, according to posts and screenshots shown on social media. — Fu Ting, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 But this latest barrage is both broader and more intense, largely because Ukraine’s recent successes, particularly inside Russia, have provoked Putin to try to reclaim battlefield momentum. — Ian Bremmer, Time, 31 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provoked
  1. aggravated
  2. encouraged
  3. triggered
  4. frustrated
  5. stimulated
  6. raised
  7. tortured
  8. stirred
Adjective
  • He's been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and theft by taking.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Oklahoma City saw increases in homicides, rapes and robberies, while aggravated assaults only decreased by eight year-over-year.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of aggravated
Verb
  • After Wednesday's hearing, Warren said he was encouraged by the judge's questions and hoped for a ruling before students return for the new semester.
    — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The story reported that, wary of potential consequences for employment in California, Newsom had encouraged Bonta to find a solution out of court.
    — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of encouraged
Verb
  • That triggered a crunch among many developers and brought on a downturn in the property market that has weighed on the broader economy ever since.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The boat’s capsize triggered a fleet of emergency vessels to the open waters between the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn shore.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of triggered
Adjective
  • Giulio, a dissatisfied 16-year-old, drifts through life with no enthusiasm for his education or his future, much to his family’s dismay (particularly his endlessly frustrated mother, brilliantly played by Monica Bellucci).
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Giulio a dissatisfied 16-year-old, drifts through life with no enthusiasm for his education or his future, much to his family’s dismay (particularly his endlessly frustrated mother, brilliantly played by Monica Bellucci).
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustrated
Verb
  • So the majority of product [is] stimulated by patient interaction, and the hero product has to be the Polish.
    — Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • What might have seemed dull to a thought stimulated by the senses or by intellectual pursuits becomes an opportunity to listen for what Christ is imparting to us – nurturing our progress in understanding the things of Spirit, God.
    — Tony Lobl, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulated
Verb
  • That sentiment illustrates a central tension raised by many of the actors who shared their stories with CNN.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Rights groups have raised concerns about the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers in Tunisia since the EU agreement, including reports of collective expulsions, racial violence, arbitrary detention and abuses against Black migrants.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of raised
Adjective
  • Wuthering Heights In Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte presents a world of conflicts, frictions between families, passions, and attachments—especially those of Catherine Earnshaw and the tortured Heathcliff—across an untamed landscape.
    — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Eve resists scream-queen clichés, but Gemma’s boringly typical tortured backstory is as flat as her wan chemistry with Nick.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of tortured
Verb
  • The pepperonis are sautéed in oil with onion, then stirred into a rich tomato sauce that’s poured over thin spaghetti noodles (or whatever other pasta shape your crew likes).
    — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026
  • When most of us think about edible seeds, our minds usually jump to chia seeds stirred into smoothies or overnight oats, pumpkin seeds roasted after carving jack-o'-lanterns each fall, or sunflower seeds chewed and spit out at a baseball game.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of stirred

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provoked
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Cite this Entry

“Provoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provoked. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on provoked

Nglish: Translation of provoked for Spanish Speakers

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