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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provokes
Criticism triggers defensiveness; defensiveness fuels contempt; contempt provokes stonewalling.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 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
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 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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My hope is that Reunion encourages commissioners and production companies to create space for other deaf people to come forward and tell their stories.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
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The presence of citizen participation in legal decision-making encourages civic engagement, fosters public trust and reanimates the participatory ideals on which the American republic was founded.—
Richard Lorren Jolly,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The butter, which has honey in it, raises a serious concern.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Exercise itself raises body temperature because of all the additional heat produced by the cellular work involved.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Lowering rates may cause inflation and stimulates the economy to hire more.—
Vipin Bharathan,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Fiber helps slow digestion and stimulates the production of satiety hormones.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Digestive Support Turmeric helps stimulate bile production in the gallbladder, which promotes fat digestion.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 2025
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According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide, at least 197 journalists and media workers were killed during the war; 189 of them were Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Art reigns at the Prado (home to Velázquez and Goya) and the Reina Sofía—where Picasso’s Guernica stirs the soul—but Madrid’s heartbeat is felt in the fierce rhythm of flamenco and the roar of Real Madrid fans at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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In Gemini, Uranus stirs the mind like a kaleidoscope of flashing insights and alternative solutions.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The lights are programmed to change from yellow to red or green when the freeway traffic is going slower than 60 mph, which triggers the signals to control traffic flow entering the freeway.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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This suggests that swearing triggers a boost, which allows the body to perform better in a short-term physical task.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sherry hopes his video inspires men, balding or not, to embrace self-care and find ways to be the best version of themselves.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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What’s needed now is a return to fashion that inspires, built on products that reignite a sense of fantasy.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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 9 Sep. 2025.
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