provoking
Deliberately causing reaction
Provoking describes something that stirs up a reaction—typically annoyance or irritation, but sometimes thought or emotion more broadly.
A provoking remark gets under your skin; a provoking question makes you think.
The word carries a slight old-fashioned flavor compared to provocative, which now dominates in most contexts: How provoking that she didn't reply!
Giving reminders to continue
- triggeringCausing to activate
- inducingCausing or bringing about
- elicitingDrawing out responses
- sparkingEmitting small flames
precipitating · generating · producing · bringing about · giving rise to · occasioning · evoking · engendering
Causing mild irritation
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
- exasperatingIntensely irritating
- vexingCausing mild torment
- infuriatingCausing extreme anger
irksome · galling · nettling · rankling · riling · maddening · frustrating · pestering
Casting back light
- contemplativeInclined to deep thought
- philosophicalConcerned with fundamental truths
- meditativeInclined toward deep reflection
- introspectiveExamining one's own mind
cerebral · intellectual · profound · deep · meaningful · insightful · stimulating · challenging
Prompting action to begin
- agitatingDisturbing or stirring up
- inflamingArousing strong emotion
- stirringArousing strong emotion
- rousingExciting strong feeling
fomenting · goading · antagonizing · kindling · fueling · rabble-rousing · whipping up · firing up
Showing contempt through words
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
- outrageousShockingly bad or excessive
- scandalousMorally offensive or shocking
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
contentious · controversial · incendiary · abusive · disrespectful · derogatory · vulgar · obscene
Evoking enthusiasm or drive
- challengingHard to accomplish
- engagingPleasantly attractive, compelling attention
- excitingArousing eager interest
- intriguingArousing eager interest
fascinating · compelling · arousing · stirring · awakening · piquing · tantalizing · titillating
prompting
Giving reminders to continue
- triggeringCausing to activate
- inducingCausing or bringing about
- elicitingDrawing out responses
sparking · precipitating · generating · producing · bringing about · giving rise to · occasioning · evoking · engendering · breeding
annoying
Causing mild irritation
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
- exasperatingIntensely irritating
- vexingCausing mild torment
infuriating · irksome · galling · nettling · rankling · riling · maddening · frustrating · pestering · needling
reflective
Casting back light
- contemplativeInclined to deep thought
- philosophicalConcerned with fundamental truths
- meditativeInclined toward deep reflection
introspective · cerebral · intellectual · profound · deep · meaningful · insightful · stimulating · challenging · questioning
instigating
Prompting action to begin
rousing · fomenting · goading · antagonizing · kindling · fueling · rabble-rousing · whipping up · firing up · egging on
insulting
Showing contempt through words
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
- outrageousShockingly bad or excessive
- scandalousMorally offensive or shocking
contentious · controversial · incendiary · abusive · disrespectful · derogatory · vulgar · obscene · blasphemous · indecent
inspiring
Evoking enthusiasm or drive
- challengingHard to accomplish
- engagingPleasantly attractive, compelling attention
- excitingArousing eager interest
intriguing · fascinating · compelling · arousing · stirring · awakening · piquing · tantalizing · titillating · electrifying
- hostile behaviorsattacking, bullying, fighting, harassing, hitting
- irritatingannoying, aggravating, bothersome, exasperating, frustrating
- misconductmisconduct, bullying, stealing, vandalism, cheating
- persuadingpersuading, convincing, urging, coaxing, influencing
- troublemakingtroublemaker, troublemaking, instigate, agitator, instigating
- incitementinciting, instigating, incitement, instigation, goading
provokingcalming
Inducing a settled state
soothing · pacifying · mollifying · placating · tranquilizing
provokingsuppressing
Forcibly restraining or inhibiting
inhibiting · deterring · discouraging · quelling · dampening
provokingpleasing
Causing enjoyment or satisfaction
gratifying · delighting · satisfying · agreeable · inoffensive
provoke, evoke, revoke, invoke, provocative, vocation, provoked, provocateur, provocation