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
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
This brings us to sovereignty, and why foreign involvement provokes less outrage than outsiders might expect.
—Helena Carpio, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
The result is a film that provokes thought more than feeling, one that invites discussion, while denying audiences the emotional dimension that might have driven home its relevance.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
Storytelling is endlessly contested, and recourse to propaganda provokes resistance and derision.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Mercury in Sagittarius provokes your mind to venture into uncharted territory.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
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
This brings us to sovereignty, and why foreign involvement provokes less outrage than outsiders might expect.
—Helena Carpio, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
The result is a film that provokes thought more than feeling, one that invites discussion, while denying audiences the emotional dimension that might have driven home its relevance.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
Storytelling is endlessly contested, and recourse to propaganda provokes resistance and derision.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Mercury in Sagittarius provokes your mind to venture into uncharted territory.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provokes
Verb
-
Paramount’s pressure campaign had been relentless, first winning over theater owners, who expressed alarm over Netflix’s business model that encourages consumers to watch movies in their homes.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The former vice president encourages voters to cast an early ballot Friday or vote in person on election day.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Two months later, the board approved raises for vice chancellors who also rank near the top of the salary scale.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The event, hosted by Bay Club, raises money for continued research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), aka Lou Gehrig’s disease.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The quiet house plus the optimism of the dawn stimulates my creativity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
-
One theory is that vinegar stimulates nerve receptors in the mouth, signaling the brain to calm the cramping.—
Caitlin Pagán,
Verywell Health,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Holiday marketing promotes diamond jewelry only as Valentine's Day or milestone anniversary gifts.—
Malana VanTayler,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Select a potting mix that promotes drainage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Your 12th House of Healing stirs as combative Mars squares radical Uranus in your 3rd House of Noise.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2026
-
But there’s nothing that stirs fan enthusiasm more than when high-end prospects do something significant.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The heat triggers a chemical reaction that strips the oxygen away, leaving behind carbon monoxide as a byproduct.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The heat in peppers comes from capsaicin, a chemical that triggers pain receptors in humans and other creatures.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Richard’s commitment to empowering the next generation reflects the heart of our mission — and inspires the entire FIT community.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Renaud hopes that the 37-minute HBO doc incites change.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
28 Feb. 2026
-
While the technology behind agents will, no doubt, continue to change and grow, organizations that retain the highest benefits from it are likely to be those that bring people along for the changes technology incites.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
23 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provokes. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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