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

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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 loss of virtual companions has provoked a flood of complaints, according to posts and screenshots shown on social media. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 The ensuing conflict provoked one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 7 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 That bitter end came in extra time at the 2006 World Cup final, when Zidane, who had already said the game would be his last as a player at age 34, was provoked into headbutting opponent Marco Materazzi and got sent off. — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 28 July 2026 Palestinian local authorities say the settlers provoked the violence. — Reuters, NBC news, 27 July 2026 Speculation continues to swirl around Fernandez’s future, provoked further by Fernandez now being a villain in the eyes of many English soccer fans. — Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 Historians recall Kennedy as cool and decisive during the Cuban missile crisis, rejecting reckless advice that could have provoked a nuclear war. — Clifford Krauss, Air Mail, 25 July 2026 Broadnose sevengill sharks are considered aggressive when provoked and are classified as dangerous in both Australia and New Zealand, per the Institute. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 18 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
  • State prison records show Milton has previously served time for burglary, retail theft, drug possession, armed robbery and aggravated battery, among other convictions dating to the late 1990s.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • His son, 16-year-old Colt Gray, pleaded guilty to all 55 counts against him, including murder and aggravated assault.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of aggravated
Verb
  • Crystal Sosa said her husband encouraged her to take on the challenge.
    — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Communal spaces create an environment where guests and crew are encouraged to interact, while low-maintenance materials aim to maximize crew productivity.
    — Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of encouraged
Verb
  • In July 2024, heavy rain triggered a severe mudslide that killed at least 257 people in southern Ethiopia, per AP.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The July gains came after Citadel acquired the bulk of the public-stock portfolio formerly held by Situational Awareness late last month, following the hedge fund's rapid unraveling after steep losses triggered margin calls and forced asset sales.
    — Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of triggered
Adjective
  • Some parents said the closure has left them frustrated and seeking more transparency from city officials.
    — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Bohm was not in the lineup Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays after going 0-for-4 with a walk on Friday, which included a visibly frustrated walk back to the dugout.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustrated
Verb
  • Beijing's pullback of NEV subsidies, which had previously stimulated consumer appetite, has tempered demand for cars in 2026.
    — Matthew Tan,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 20 July 2026
  • Many major tech companies engineered environments designed to keep smart people in the building longer—fed, caffeinated and stimulated enough to move at a pace that older, slower companies couldn't match.
    — Vince Carrabba, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of stimulated
Verb
  • Elsewhere, Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest reprise their roles as the eclectic aunts who raised the sisters.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • For some in the Howard community, the bitter experience has raised questions about the legacy of one of the country’s most revered historically Black colleges and universities.
    — Matt Brown, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of raised
Adjective
  • The committee is tasked with analyzing and reviewing problematic conference papers and enhancing quality screening of articles prior to publication to detect integrity issues such as plagiarism and tortured phrases.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026
  • This discovery stunned de Man’s colleagues and students, and was particularly traumatic for Derrida, who attempted a tortured but ultimately unconvincing reckoning with what his friend had written as a young man.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
Definition of tortured
Verb
  • Over on Reddit and other online forums, Pitt’s return to drinking has stirred controversy, especially from people who are in recovery themselves or who grew up with loved ones who abused alcohol.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Yet Germany’s military buildup has stirred anxiety in France, while industrial rivalries have repeatedly frustrated joint projects.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of stirred

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Cite this Entry

“Provoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provoked. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of provoked for Spanish Speakers

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