provokes

verb

present tense third-person singular of provoke
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

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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

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 provokes Another friend recounted the ins-and-outs of her 11-year-old’s baseball league, which provokes more political intrigue than a Hilary Mantel novel. — Mary Pauline Lowry, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 His jealousy provokes an act of betrayal and cruelty. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 June 2026 Such a statistic often provokes a familiar gamut of responses from those who read it, from shock, disgust and anger to a debilitating sense of helplessness. — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 3 June 2026 Likewise, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently warned that the bond market will ultimately prove to be the factor that provokes some action from DC when investors begin to demand higher premiums to continue buying debt. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 May 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provokes
  1. encourages
  2. raises
  3. stimulates
  4. promotes
  5. stirs
  6. triggers
  7. inspires
  8. incites
Verb
  • Today’s astro-weather encourages us to be emotionally intelligent without being evasive.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
  • The hotel showcases contemporary artworks throughout its interiors, creating an atmosphere that encourages discovery beyond the city itself.
    — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of encourages
Verb
  • Analysts said the persistence of such underlying weakness also raises the question of whether Chinese officials will turn to more fiscal stimulus to try and boost domestic spending.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Diaz's go-to no-gear routine is one minute of squats, one minute of high knees, and one minute of calf raises.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 14 July 2026
Definition of raises
Verb
  • Wild Orchard Farmstead is a quintessential regenerative organic property that stimulates every sense.
    — Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • But medication reduces only the symptoms of fear, not the underlying trigger that stimulates it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
Definition of stimulates
Verb
  • The approach also promotes evaluating the quality of decision-making reasoning, not just outcomes, fostering learning over hindsight.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • The suit includes a slew of salacious emails allegedly sent by the organization, which promotes conservative causes across the state.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
Definition of promotes
Verb
  • The nurturing Moon stirs your 11th House of Friends, squaring intense Pluto in your 8th House of Intimacy, so loyalty may clash with privacy, money, or emotional bandwidth.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
  • Atlantic tropics are quiet while Pacific stirs In the Atlantic basin, forecasters are predicting a quiet stretch of weather.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 22 June 2026
Definition of stirs
Verb
  • The stutter, in this case, provides a sudden stimulus that triggers the ’keeper to commit to going in a certain direction early, which can then be exploited with a shot sent the other way.
    — Geir Jordet, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Many scientists believe that amyloid buildup eventually triggers an abnormal form of tau to form tangles in neurons, setting off symptoms.
    — Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 14 July 2026
Definition of triggers
Verb
  • Organizers said the camp builds confidence and leadership and inspires the next generation of young women to pursue firefighting.
    — Kellye Lynn, CBS News, 12 July 2026
  • Wallace inspires Scotland to fight for freedom despite overwhelming odds.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of inspires
Verb
  • The rule will also apply to any team official who incites players to leave the field of play in protest.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
  • The catalyst of all the tragedy that Bear incites is the One Wish Willow, a kitschy antique toy that promises to grant one (literal) wish for whoever snaps it in half.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
Definition of incites

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Cite this Entry

“Provokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provokes. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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