provoke

/prəˈvoʊk/

/prəˈvʌʊk/

Other forms: provoked; provoking; provokes

Anything that brings about a strong reaction can be said to provoke. You can provoke that lion if you want. But if he responds by attacking, don't come running to me.

Let's consider some people who have been known to provoke. Lenny Bruce, was more than just a comedian. He was a "provocateur" who used humor to deliver his controversial diatribes. Humor was his way to provoke people to think. Madonna made her name not only by producing a memorable catalogue of great pop songs, she proved herself to be a master at provoking people through her outrageous attire and lyrics. The moral of this story? It's possible to provoke both positive and negative responses.

Definitions of provoke

1. verb

   provide the needed stimulus for
   synonyms: stimulate

   types:

   entice, lure, tempt

   provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion

   rejuvenate

   cause (a stream or river) to erode, as by an uplift of the land

   jog

   stimulate to remember

   incite, instigate, set off, stir up

   provoke or stir up

   agitate, foment, stir up

   try to stir up (e.g., public opinion)

   hook, snare

   entice and trap

   seduce

   lure or entice away from duty, principles, or proper conduct

   call

   lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal

   stool

   lure with a stool, as of wild fowl

   lead on

   entice or induce especially when unwise or mistaken

   tweedle

   entice through the use of music

   raise

   activate or stir up

   decoy

   lure or entrap with or as if with a decoy

   bait

   lure, entice, or entrap with bait

   rumpus

   cause a disturbance

   type of:

   challenge

   issue a challenge to
2. verb

   call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
   synonyms: arouse, elicit, enkindle, evoke, fire, kindle, pique, raise

   types:

   strike a chord, touch a chord

   evoke a reaction, response, or emotion

   ask for, invite

   increase the likelihood of

   draw

   elicit responses, such as objections, criticism, applause, etc.

   rekindle

   arouse again

   infatuate

   arouse unreasoning love or passion in and cause to behave in an irrational way

   prick

   cause a sharp emotional pain

   fire up, heat, ignite, inflame, stir up, wake

   arouse or excite feelings and passions

   excite, shake, shake up, stimulate, stir

   stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of

   excite

   arouse or elicit a feeling

   anger

   make angry

   discomfit, discompose, disconcert, rattle, untune, upset

   cause to lose one's composure

   shame

   cause to be ashamed

   bruise, hurt, injure, offend, spite, wound

   hurt the feelings of

   overcome, overpower, overtake, overwhelm, sweep over, whelm

   overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli

   interest

   excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of

   beg the question

   elicit or call to mind a question, especially one that has not yet been addressed

   stoke

   increase or intensify an emotion or response

   devastate

   overwhelm or overpower

   absorb, engage, engross, occupy

   consume all of one's attention or time

   clutch, get hold of, seize

   affect

   affront, diss, insult

   treat, mention, or speak to rudely

   ferment

   work up into agitation or excitement

   fuel

   stimulate

   arouse, excite, sex, turn on, wind up

   stimulate sexually

   affright, fright, frighten, scare

   cause fear in

   enervate, faze, unnerve, unsettle

   disturb the composure of

   dissolve

   cause to lose control emotionally

   combust

   cause to become violent or angry

   miff

   cause to be annoyed

   gall, irk

   irritate or vex

   exasperate, incense, infuriate

   make furious

   madden

   make mad

   offend, pique

   cause to feel resentment or indignation

   bemuse, bewilder, discombobulate, throw

   cause to be confused emotionally

   abash, embarrass

   cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious

   discountenance

   look with disfavor on

   anguish, hurt, pain

   cause emotional anguish or make miserable

   lacerate

   deeply hurt the feelings of; distress

   sting

   cause an emotional pain, as if by stinging

   enrage

   put into a rage; make violently angry

   thrill, tickle, vibrate

   feel sudden intense sensation or emotion

   afflict

   cause great unhappiness for; distress

   abase, chagrin, humble, humiliate, mortify

   cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of

   invite, tempt

   give rise to a desire by being attractive or inviting

   kill

   overwhelm with hilarity, pleasure, or admiration

   benight

   overtake with darkness or night

   knock out

   overwhelm with admiration

   stagger

   astound or overwhelm, as with shock

   lock

   hold fast (in a certain state)

   elate, intoxicate, lift up, pick up, uplift

   fill with high spirits; fill with optimism

   animate, enliven, exalt, inspire, invigorate

   heighten or intensify

   titillate

   stimulate or excite the senses or feelings of

   aggravate, exacerbate, exasperate

   exasperate or irritate

   fascinate, grip, spellbind, transfix

   render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe

   enthuse

   cause to feel enthusiasm

   type of:

   create, make

   make or cause to be or to become
3. verb

   evoke or provoke to appear or occur
   “Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple”

   synonyms: call forth, evoke, kick up

   arouse, bring up, call down, call forth, conjure, conjure up, evoke, invoke, put forward, raise, stir

   summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic

   types:

   pick

   provoke

   type of:

   cause, do, make

   give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
4. verb

   annoy continually or chronically
   synonyms: beset, chevvy, chevy, chivvy, chivy, harass, harry, hassle, molest, plague

   types:

   goad, needle

   goad or provoke, as by constant criticism

   bedevil, crucify, dun, frustrate, rag, torment

   treat cruelly

   haze

   harass by imposing humiliating or painful tasks, as in military institutions

   madden

   drive up the wall; get on someone's nerves

   hamstring

   make ineffective or powerless

   badger, beleaguer, bug, pester, tease

   annoy persistently

   oppress, persecute

   cause to suffer

   type of:

   annoy, bother, chafe, devil, get at, get to, gravel, irritate, nark, nettle, rag, rile, vex

   cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations