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
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
But when her latest husband, discord spirit Raksh, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina must clean up his blunder, contend with Marjana’s demands for the truth…and figure out who on her crew is plotting a mutiny.
—Literary Hub, 2 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
Blue Film provokes and captivates in equal measure, with the naked honesty of a black box off-off-Broadway play.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
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
But when her latest husband, discord spirit Raksh, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina must clean up his blunder, contend with Marjana’s demands for the truth…and figure out who on her crew is plotting a mutiny.
—Literary Hub, 2 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
Blue Film provokes and captivates in equal measure, with the naked honesty of a black box off-off-Broadway play.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provokes
Verb
-
Lindenmeyr encourages them to push their flight back a day, book a five-star hotel in their airport city, and take advantage of pre-flight spa treatments, great dining, and local entertainment.—
Erik Buckingham,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
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Rather, the legislation encourages agencies to develop plans that offer remote work to the fullest extent possible, which the state engineers union noted is consistent with language already outlined in the Department of General Services existing Statewide Telework Policy.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The viewing party raises funds to support the foundation’s mission to end new HIV transmissions and dismantle the stigma that continues to fuel the epidemic.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
-
And consuming more beverages containing artificial sweeteners raises the risk of death from any cause and Alzheimer’s disease, based on moderately good evidence.—
Michael I Goran,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The viral beauty gadget stimulates collagen, boosts circulation, and leaves you with plump, youthful results.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
6 Feb. 2026
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Then, they are manually placed on Multi Electrode Arrays (MEAs), a grid of tiny electrodes on a biocompatible substrate chip that records and stimulates neurons using 32 electrodes grouped into four sets of eight.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Come Near, a nonprofit that promotes dialogue around Jesus, took over the campaign in 2024.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The annual Congressional App Challenge promotes youth participation in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Her decision stirs conflicts with her husband (Gael García Bernal), daughter (Noomi Rapace), and AI assistant (Beanie Feldstein), revealing the humorous complexity of their relationships.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Michaelson asked Fisher about a particular conversation between the two former Lakers that still stirs strong emotions for the 18-year NBA veteran.—
Monica Haider,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Using solar energy, the device triggers evaporation to draw lithium inward, while its unique 30-degree tilt manages waste.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
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With persistent slabs, the first few travelers may pass without incident, only to hit a weak spot later that triggers a full release.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
3 Feb. 2026
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Supporting efforts in Minnesota inspires local action Nic Banach moved back to Milwaukee in January 2025 after spending years in Minnesota.—
Alyssa N. Salcedo,
jsonline.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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Until then, the only limits on their selections were Vimeo’s standard terms of service, which prohibit content that incites violence or qualifies as pornographic.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provokes. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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