provokes

VERB

make angry

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aggravate anger enrage foment incite inflame infuriate irk irritate offend raise

STRONG

abet abrade affront annoy bother bug chafe exasperate exercise fret gall get grate incense insult madden nag perturb pique rile roil ruffle set upset vex

WEAK

get on one's nerves get under one's skin hit where one lives make blood boil make waves put out set on try one's patience whip up work into lather work up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

alleviate appease calm delight discourage help make happy pacify placate please soothe stop

STRONG

aid assuage comfort compliment dissuade fail gratify hinder ignore lose

WEAK

end halt prevent

VERB

start, evoke; stimulate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arouse bring about cause elicit galvanize generate incite induce inflame inspire instigate kindle lead to motivate precipitate prompt stir

STRONG

animate awaken begin bestir challenge electrify enthuse excite fire innervate make move occasion pique prime produce promote quicken rally rouse thrill titillate titivate waken whet

WEAK

bring down bring on bring to one's feet build up call forth draw forth fire up give rise to innerve roust suscitate

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm depress deter discourage dissuade halt prevent put out stop wait

STRONG

bore deaden demote destroy disenchant dishearten dull lose ruin weaken

WEAK

delight end make happy please

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But fancy chicken, even if it is expensive to prepare, provokes people in a different way.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

But if West provokes a contest now, that rules Burnham out.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

The worry "is that the tariff threat provokes retaliatory actions by the EU, triggering a new trade war," said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare.

From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026

She says the right things and she provokes them, but not too much.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2025

I’ll see whether that provokes something—an unnatural response, any kind of reaction.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins