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
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provoked
Gram Slattery, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
The moves provoked legal challenges over First Amendment rights.
—Dan Gooding
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
That is why the Asgards have provoked such intense interest from evolutionary biologists.
—Veronique Greenwood, Quanta Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
Michael Roberson, a defense attorney, argued Lawson was provoked by Martin.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2025
So his recent absence from public view provoked all sorts of speculation – fed by social media algorithms that promoted conspiracy theories and complete nonsense to huge numbers of people.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Authorities say that the man, a tourist from the neighboring state of Kerala, was lucky to survive — and that the elephant was likely provoked because the tourist had climbed out of his safari vehicle and approached the animal to take a selfie.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 31 Aug. 2025
The second big winner is Service Employees International Union Local 73, which broke with Johnson ally the Chicago Teachers Union earlier this year as CTU was negotiating its own contract and provoked SEIU’s ire in a dispute over representation of some CPS employees.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
That fly-on-the-wall approach ensures that, if Megalopolis provoked its share of critical battles, Megadoc will serve as evidence for all sides of the debate.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
In practice, that could mean a withdrawal of political cover for Israel's ongoing invasion of Gaza, which has provoked outrage among European and Arab nations as famine conditions spread.
—Gram Slattery, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
The moves provoked legal challenges over First Amendment rights.
—Dan Gooding
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
That is why the Asgards have provoked such intense interest from evolutionary biologists.
—Veronique Greenwood, Quanta Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
Michael Roberson, a defense attorney, argued Lawson was provoked by Martin.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2025
So his recent absence from public view provoked all sorts of speculation – fed by social media algorithms that promoted conspiracy theories and complete nonsense to huge numbers of people.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Authorities say that the man, a tourist from the neighboring state of Kerala, was lucky to survive — and that the elephant was likely provoked because the tourist had climbed out of his safari vehicle and approached the animal to take a selfie.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 31 Aug. 2025
The second big winner is Service Employees International Union Local 73, which broke with Johnson ally the Chicago Teachers Union earlier this year as CTU was negotiating its own contract and provoked SEIU’s ire in a dispute over representation of some CPS employees.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
That fly-on-the-wall approach ensures that, if Megalopolis provoked its share of critical battles, Megadoc will serve as evidence for all sides of the debate.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provoked
Verb
-
In his acceptance speech, Cooper revealed only started drama classes a couple of years ago and encouraged those watching to step out of their comfort zones.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
-
In recent years, as American moms have been enthusiastically encouraged to breastfeed, many experts have emphasized that making sure infants are fed, period, should be parents’ highest priority.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The fallout from Singapore's money-laundering scandal and high-profile crypto failures like Three Arrows Capital and FTX triggered an aggressive compliance push in 2024, according to Iris Xu, founder of corporate services firm Jenga, whose clients are wealthy mainland Chinese in Singapore.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
-
That contract, reached after the union leveraged a strike threat in 2024, included coverage of PBS Kids’ animation for the first time and triggered union representation for writers on shows like Molly of Denali and Work It Out Wombats.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
He was booked into Thurston County Jail on suspicion of robbery and aggravated battery, police said.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Henry Mesker, 25, was the second person to accept the plea agreement and plead guilty to one count of aggravated assault, court records said.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But dogs still need ways to burn off energy and stay mentally stimulated.—
Kelsey Monstrola,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
For example, one study found that breast cancer cell growth was stimulated by low concentrations of genistein and inhibited by higher concentrations.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Getty Images Rec, a technology company serving the parks and recreation industry, has raised $11 million in a Series A funding round in which several former and current professional athletes participated.—
Tim Casey,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The Eco Wave Power logo is displayed on a floater raised out of the water during a demonstration of Eco Wave Power electricity generation technology using the power of ocean waves in the harbor at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, on August 26, 2025.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Xu said, noting that frustrated clients began moving funds to Japan, Hong Kong and Dubai instead.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Service is also a realistic story about a frustrated middle-aged former journalist and aspiring novelist idling in an ultra-low-paying job.—
Susan Coll
September 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That rich color, the soft texture of the suède, stirred in me all the promise of autumn, of a new school year, of a chance to have instead of to want—in other words, to finally be.—
Rachel Kushner,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The Exploremores have already stirred debate online.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But the journalist didn’t mention what incited the longest silence.—
Jeannie Vanasco
September 8,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The witness said survivors were placed in a courtyard, where hospital staff incited others to beat them.—
Beth Bailey,
FOXNews.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provoked. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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