1
as in encourages
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in raises
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
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Recent Examples of provokes
But the question of what is true or not is futile, even if Calle deliberately provokes this curiosity.
—
Elisa Wouk Almino
editor, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The flurry of imagery provokes a surreal sort of whiplash.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
The visual effect provokes strikes, but the vibrations also stimulate the receptors in a bass's lateral line.
—Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
At work, Paige (Elle Chapman) punches a coworker who provokes her with truly unkind remarks about her father's death.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 21 Mar. 2026
The aroma of coffee brewing reliably provokes desire.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Deadline can reveal the first trailer for the radical love story revolving around Suzanne and undocumented migrant Osmane, whose relationship provokes a wave of anger and indignation all around them, forcing them to resist.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
Fogel is always looking for the visual angle that provokes an emotional response.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
This ends up being just one of Aemond’s defining moments, which further provokes war.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
Elisa Wouk Almino
editor, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The flurry of imagery provokes a surreal sort of whiplash.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
The visual effect provokes strikes, but the vibrations also stimulate the receptors in a bass's lateral line.
—Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
At work, Paige (Elle Chapman) punches a coworker who provokes her with truly unkind remarks about her father's death.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 21 Mar. 2026
The aroma of coffee brewing reliably provokes desire.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Deadline can reveal the first trailer for the radical love story revolving around Suzanne and undocumented migrant Osmane, whose relationship provokes a wave of anger and indignation all around them, forcing them to resist.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
Fogel is always looking for the visual angle that provokes an emotional response.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
This ends up being just one of Aemond’s defining moments, which further provokes war.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provokes
Verb
-
To manage that reality, Manning encourages newer teachers to establish boundaries early and stick to them.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Not all that long ago, Fox and Telemundo likely would have blanched at an ad that encourages sports fans to get up from their sofas.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But for some immigrant families, the new requirement raises concerns.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Brandon builds a fire, loads the smoker with hot charcoal, puts the pig in, and then pulls the tenderloin only a few hours into the cooking process; Sieger puts the pig in first, then gently raises the temperature, and does not pull the tenderloin separately.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fortunately, certain types of mushrooms are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light during or after harvesting, which stimulates vitamin D production in the mushrooms.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Beta-glucan also stimulates the release of GLP-1 from the gut, sending hormonal signals of fullness to the brain.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The nearly 3-minute song promotes confidence and self-expression with an upbeat tune.—
Joyann Jeffrey,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
But, what a lot of the longevity industry promotes offers drops in the bucket while things that can have the greatest impact go undervalued, Swisher said.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the rise of artificial intelligence stirs anxiety over the technology taking people's jobs, AI is also opening pathways to new careers, according to LinkedIn.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
If travel, coursework, or a belief debate stirs friction, skip arguing about theory in favor of grounding the talk with real-life examples.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The premeditation conviction automatically triggers a life sentence without the possibility of parole.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Each application triggers a hard inquiry, which can temporarily lower your score.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Great cast members display an infectious enthusiasm that inspires visitors to want to get into their load row and onto that boat and sit down as swiftly as possible.—
Robert Niles,
Oc Register,
14 Apr. 2026
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Rohini Subrahmanyam,
Scientific American,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The phrase either inspires excitement or incites fear among adults who are lucky enough to still have their parents and siblings around and still want to hang out with them.—
Sarah James,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
-
January 20 – February 18 When tension incites change, your presence can be a guiding light.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provokes. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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