provoke
Stir to action
To provoke is to stir someone to action or emotion, often negative.
You might provoke anger, provoke a response, or provoke someone into making a mistake.
The word suggests deliberate incitement: He kept provoking her until she snapped.
Things can also provoke without intention—a comment might provoke thought or provoke controversy.
To be easily provoked is to have a short temper.
Make furious
- infuriateProvoke extreme anger
- outrageFierce moral indignation
- incenseAnger greatly, or aromatic resin
- maddenProvoke to fury
irritate · annoy · exasperate · aggravate · vex · rile · nettle · irk
Lure for prey
- goadIncite to action
- needlePointed implement for sewing
- teaseMock playfully
- mockScornful imitation or fake
ridicule · heckle · jeer · torment · harass · badger · pester · pick on
Cause or persuade
- triggerWhat initiates action
- promptIncite to action
- causeWhat produces an effect
- generateCause to come into being
produce · engender · spark · inspire · draw out · bring about · occasion · stimulate
Answer to stimulus
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- outburstSudden emotional release
- retortQuick, cutting reply
counterattack · reprisal · defiance · resistance · confrontation · escalation · indignation · outcry
instigate
Cause to begin
whip up · galvanize · rouse · spark · trigger · kindle · ignite · inflame · spur · goad
enrage
Make furious
- infuriateProvoke extreme anger
- outrageFierce moral indignation
- incenseAnger greatly, or aromatic resin
madden · irritate · annoy · exasperate · aggravate · vex · rile · nettle · irk · offend
bait
Lure for prey
mock · ridicule · heckle · jeer · torment · harass · badger · pester · pick on · wind up
induce
Cause or persuade
generate · produce · engender · spark · inspire · draw out · bring about · occasion · stimulate · arouse
response
Answer to stimulus
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- outburstSudden emotional release
retort · counterattack · reprisal · defiance · resistance · confrontation · escalation · indignation · outcry · uproar
- Cause a stirmake waves, rock the boat, stir the pot, raise eyebrows, ruffle feathers
- agitateagitate, stir, rouse, disturb, rile up
- confrontationsargue, fight, clash, quarrel, dispute
- making troublemake waves, stir the pot, raise Cain, kick up a fuss, upset the apple cart
- tauntstaunts, taunt, taunting, neener neener, insults
- troublemakingtroublemaker, troublemaking, instigate, agitator, instigating
provokedeter
Prevent through intimidation
prevent · discourage · inhibit · restrain · suppress
provokeappease
Satisfy to restore calm
conciliate · propitiate · placate · mollify · reconcile
- provocative languageSpeech intended to provoke
- provocative artArt intended to challenge
- provocative contentMatter intended to inflame
- provocative themesSubjects intended to challenge
- provocative styleManner intended to disturb
provocative, provoked, provoking, provocation, provokes, provoker, unprovoked, provocations, provokers