as in aggravated
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
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
Colleen Barry, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
The troop deployments have provoked legal challenges from local leaders, and some have been successful.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
This was true even before ICE and Border Patrol agents shot and killed two protesters in Minnesota in the past two weeks, violence that has provoked widespread revulsion.
—Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 29 Jan. 2026
At the same time, violence toward legal observers and bystanders is escalating — not because agents are being provoked, but because these operations increasingly proceed without accountability or transparency.
—Jody Agius Vallejo, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
Still, the Justice Department’s choice to focus on charging protesters, while enabling the violence by law enforcement that may have provoked them, is a telling indicator of its priorities.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Here are some of the Republicans who have provoked the President’s ire.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
The statement doesn’t even mention Renee Good and Alex Pretti, whose killing finally provoked the Chamber’s members to speak out.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The initial defiance from figures like Noem and Miller provoked unusually direct criticism from conservative quarters.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
News of the deployment of ICE agents has provoked a backlash in Italy.
—Colleen Barry, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
The troop deployments have provoked legal challenges from local leaders, and some have been successful.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
This was true even before ICE and Border Patrol agents shot and killed two protesters in Minnesota in the past two weeks, violence that has provoked widespread revulsion.
—Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 29 Jan. 2026
At the same time, violence toward legal observers and bystanders is escalating — not because agents are being provoked, but because these operations increasingly proceed without accountability or transparency.
—Jody Agius Vallejo, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
Still, the Justice Department’s choice to focus on charging protesters, while enabling the violence by law enforcement that may have provoked them, is a telling indicator of its priorities.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Here are some of the Republicans who have provoked the President’s ire.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
The statement doesn’t even mention Renee Good and Alex Pretti, whose killing finally provoked the Chamber’s members to speak out.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The initial defiance from figures like Noem and Miller provoked unusually direct criticism from conservative quarters.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provoked
Adjective
-
Dodd is facing charges of first-degree murder, home invasion, armed violence, residential burglary and aggravated stalking, according to Oswego police.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Rodriguez was convicted in 2020 of stalking and aggravated assault.—
Ronald J. Hansen,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Still, the paper has been encouraged by early signs from its first week.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Though it’s not required, candidates are encouraged to fill out job applications online before attending the Thunder Valley Casino job fairs.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But reportedly, Barron has been meeting women online, which has triggered urgent conversations in the family.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
3 Feb. 2026
-
That triggered an investigation, a lifetime ban and a fraud report to the state.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In recent stories and this new novel, Saunders’s fiction has begun to feel both darker and a bit frustrated, spiritually and artistically.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Some frustrated homeowners simply tossed the snow into the middle of the streets.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
These channels are tuned to trigger a voltage spike and tell the trap to close only if stimulated multiple times in rapid succession.—
Elise Cutts,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Many contests maintain that the frogs can be stimulated humanely to jump, such as someone blowing on them or clapping their hands behind them.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
While an appeal could clarify how far the government’s detention authority extends, the broader questions raised by the case may take months, or longer, to resolve.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Zaghal is a Palestinian Canadian author who was born and raised in Jerusalem.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Cruz’s effort has stirred questions in Washington, with early donations meant to fully help the nominee largely being steered to Cruz.—
Joseph Morton,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse earlier in the month may have stirred subconscious fears or old patterns, but by the end of February, clarity replaces confusion.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The judging controversy, however, incited a firestorm that was just getting started.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
-
There is no evidence whatsoever that Pretti obstructed federal law enforcement or incited violence on Saturday.—
Karen Cortes,
NBC news,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provoked. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
