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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provokes
Every action provokes a reaction.
—
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
After a sleepy start to the second half at Old Trafford, the arrival of Benjamin Sesko, and the relocation of Cunha into a deeper position, provokes a fresh wave of interest.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
After a sleepy start to the second half at Old Trafford, the arrival of Benjamin Sesko, and the relocation of Cunha into a deeper position, provokes a fresh wave of interest.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provokes
Verb
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Combined, the ingredients are a powerhouse that encourages surface skin cell turnover to give complexions an overall smooth, supple appearance.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
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Through speculative thinking and the power of the arts, this collection encourages us to see ourselves outside of the constraints that persist today.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For Little, this raises even more questions.—
Sarah Durn,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
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In July, a geologist warned that an ongoing cluster of smaller earthquakes near the Nicobar Islands could signal a volcanic eruption in the Andaman Sea, which raises fears of another tsunami.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mechanistically, exercise improves vascular function, metabolic health, and stimulates the release of endogenous anti-inflammatory mediators.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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The chemical targets a different system in the brain than standard antidepressants, triggering the release of glutamate, which stimulates the growth of new synapses between brain cells.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At the same time, concerns about declining populations are fueling the pronatalist movement, which promotes higher birthrates and frames demographic decline as a threat to civilization itself.—
G Kirilloff,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Chronic inflammation also promotes insulin resistance and cellular dysfunction that can lead to type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease, a growing concern.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For decades, scientists have considered the moon a dead world—a silent, unchanging landscape where nothing stirs.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
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Cardinal safety Budda Baker is still wreaking havoc and remains the proverbial straw that stirs the drink.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Asking for headcount often triggers a budget reflex.—
Sarah Chambers,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Although the shooting causes alarm and triggers police investigations, Serafina initially escapes direct consequences by going into hiding.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That insight has guided the team at Typhur, headquartered in San Jose at the heart of Silicon Valley, a location that inspires them to engineer precision with intuitive design.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Allison Parshall,
Scientific American,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The platform bans content that glorifies violence, incites harm or celebrates attacks.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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The Hills and Gribbles go to the Bush presidential library where Dale incites an incident.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provokes. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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