as in aggravated
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provoked
Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2026
When outliers such as Jeff Sessions and Chris Christie straggled into his camp, their betrayal provoked mockery and outrage.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Trump’s war has provoked a series of crises across the rest of Asia, which relies on energy imports from the Gulf.
—Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Ye had been due to perform at the Wireless festival in London in July, but the decision to book him provoked criticism over his past statements and actions, which included the release of a song called Heil Hitler.
—Alex Wickham, Bloomberg, 7 Apr. 2026
Telling the story of their private meeting, royal wedding, and high-profile exit from the UK, the docuseries made headline news for weeks and provoked much upset among Harry’s extended family.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 7 Apr. 2026
In a ruling Workers’ Party congress in February, Kim Jong Un threatened to destroy South Korea, if provoked.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
But the bill and others like it have provoked a series of constitutional concerns.
—Miguel Torres, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Solomon Islands is one of China's closest partners in the region having struck a security agreement – the details have not been made public – with Beijing in 2022 after switching recognition from Taiwan to China in 2019, an act that provoked rioting in the capital, Honiara, in 2021.
—Didi Kirsten Tatlow, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
An argument over a handgun that a man brought to a Fort Worth gender reveal party provoked an exchange of gunfire that injured five people including the suspect, a detective wrote in an arrest warrant affidavit.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2026
When outliers such as Jeff Sessions and Chris Christie straggled into his camp, their betrayal provoked mockery and outrage.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Trump’s war has provoked a series of crises across the rest of Asia, which relies on energy imports from the Gulf.
—Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Ye had been due to perform at the Wireless festival in London in July, but the decision to book him provoked criticism over his past statements and actions, which included the release of a song called Heil Hitler.
—Alex Wickham, Bloomberg, 7 Apr. 2026
Telling the story of their private meeting, royal wedding, and high-profile exit from the UK, the docuseries made headline news for weeks and provoked much upset among Harry’s extended family.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 7 Apr. 2026
In a ruling Workers’ Party congress in February, Kim Jong Un threatened to destroy South Korea, if provoked.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
But the bill and others like it have provoked a series of constitutional concerns.
—Miguel Torres, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Solomon Islands is one of China's closest partners in the region having struck a security agreement – the details have not been made public – with Beijing in 2022 after switching recognition from Taiwan to China in 2019, an act that provoked rioting in the capital, Honiara, in 2021.
—Didi Kirsten Tatlow, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provoked
Adjective
-
Officers arrested Granger on Tuesday and charged him with rape, aggravated assault, malice murder, and two counts of felony murder.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In December, a jury convicted Moore for aggravated battery to a peace officer causing great bodily harm and resisting a peace officer, per the news release.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But a close reading of the filing encouraged certain inferences.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The city says residents are encouraged to report feral hog sightings, but says animal services is unable to trap or remove them.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In Carrollton in 2024, leaking natural gas entered a sewer system and triggered a home explosion that killed a man.—
Lexi Salazar,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
That has alarmed free-speech advocates and triggered federal and state-filed antitrust lawsuits, including one that the Colorado Attorney General’s office signed on to.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Elizabeth Banks is Lindy Littlejohn, a seriously frustrated writer, unhappily if tumultuously married to Les (Matthew Macfadyen), a brilliant scientist.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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But for everything Gates said that might appeal to a frustrated Democrat like me, his Huntington Beach braggadocio continually won out.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When people spend long periods in activities that require very little mental effort, those pathways may not be stimulated in the same way.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
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The induced impact of our cast and crew spending along with the workers along the supply chain in turn stimulated even more economic growth.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Capela raised his arms in celebration after hitting the shot and Houston’s bench stood and cheered.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
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The company has raised more than $200 million in venture capital funding, with investments coming from the likes of SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Serena Williams’ firm Serena Ventures.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Changes over the last few years in the Bonnie Brae business district, along University Boulevard and east of Washington Park, stirred angst among community members.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
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Pritzker has yet to decide whether to opt into the program, which has stirred fierce opposition from public school advocates and the Chicago Teachers Union.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Like many influencer brands, the launch incited quite a bit of controversy online.—
Elizabeth Gulino,
Allure,
2 Apr. 2026
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That exchange incited a deafening roar from the more than 10,000 fans in attendance.—
Dane Mizutani,
Twin Cities,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provoked. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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