Provoke
verb
To make someone angry or annoyed.
His comments provoked a strong reaction from the audience.
Often appears as...
- provoke a reaction
- provoke an argument
verb
To cause an event or situation to happen.
The decision to cut funding has provoked an outcry from local residents.
Often appears as...
- provoke an outcry
- provoke a response
verb
To test someone's patience in a way that is annoying.
She knows how to provoke him and start an argument.
Often appears as...
- provoke an argument
- provoke hostility
verb
To make someone angry or annoyed.
His comments provoked a strong reaction from the audience.
Often appears as...
- provoke a reaction
- provoke an argument
verb
To cause an event or situation to happen.
The decision to cut funding has provoked an outcry from local residents.
Often appears as...
- provoke an outcry
- provoke a response
verb
To test someone's patience in a way that is annoying.
She knows how to provoke him and start an argument.
Often appears as...
- provoke an argument
- provoke hostility
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/2Emotional Trigger
Provoke implies a deliberate act to elicit an emotional response, often negative.
Constant teasing provoked his temper.
Pro Tip 2/2Easily Misused
Avoid using 'provoke' when you mean 'cause' as 'provoke' specifies triggering emotions, not just causing.
The movie's ending provoked tears in the audience.
Pro Tip 1/2Emotional Trigger
Provoke implies a deliberate act to elicit an emotional response, often negative.
Constant teasing provoked his temper.
Pro Tip 2/2Easily Misused
Avoid using 'provoke' when you mean 'cause' as 'provoke' specifies triggering emotions, not just causing.
The movie's ending provoked tears in the audience.
Pro Tip 1/2Emotional Trigger
Provoke implies a deliberate act to elicit an emotional response, often negative.
Constant teasing provoked his temper.
Pro Tip 2/2Easily Misused
Avoid using 'provoke' when you mean 'cause' as 'provoke' specifies triggering emotions, not just causing.
The movie's ending provoked tears in the audience.
Never forget "Provoke"
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Video examples
Insults by Shakespeare
unless you wanted to provoke them into a fight, which is exactly what's about to happen. Looking deeper, biting your thumb in the time in which the play was written is like giving someone the finger today. A pretty strong feeling comes with that, so we now are beginning to feel the tension in the scene.
Video examples
Nationalism vs....
to provoking at least a constructive conversation between the different sides here, because I think everyone can agree that the start point of a lot of the anger that's propelled us to where we are is because of the legitimate concerns about job loss. Work is gone, a traditional way of life has gone,
Video examples
The world’s most painful...
In fact, insect stings helped enable the evolution of complex colonies that would otherwise represent an easy feast to predators. Some stinging insects are, of course, more aggressive than others, but most of the time, they only sting us when we provoke them.
Video examples
Why governments should...
And I'll touch on the policy implications of that in a moment. But I think, particularly in the world we live in today, it has a deeper resonance. You know, when we focus on well-being, we start a conversation that provokes profound and fundamental questions.
Video examples
Ugandan Chimps Hunting PIPE...
they should do this has provoked a lot of speculation although a ton gogo males share more often with their allies using meat to strengthen these ones the hope of collecting a share of meat may well be the reason for joining in the hunt in the first place
Video examples
How we take back the...
for them other than the war against terrorism? Yeah. The bottom line is that terrorism has always been what we in the intelligence world would call a cover for action. Terrorism is something that provokes an emotional response that allows people
Video examples
The role of disruption...
problem or a question well building can work in the service of real-world problems and real-world impact our nursing solutions that can be tested realized provoke people to action and so I created a design studio 5d a multi-platform
Video examples
Why are eating disorders...
Eating disorders can provoke a powerful sense of powerlessness, but education for individuals, families, and communities helps erode the stigma and improve access to treatment.
Video examples
How to Survive a Gorilla...
the strength of several men gorilla troops are normally shy and peaceful but the dominant male called a silverback will defend his territory if provoked
Video examples
Survival Guide: Gorilla...
the strength of several men gorilla troops are normally shy and peaceful but the dominant male called a silverback will defend his territory if provoked
Video examples
Insults by Shakespeare
unless you wanted to provoke them into a fight, which is exactly what's about to happen. Looking deeper, biting your thumb in the time in which the play was written is like giving someone the finger today. A pretty strong feeling comes with that, so we now are beginning to feel the tension in the scene.
Video examples
Nationalism vs....
to provoking at least a constructive conversation between the different sides here, because I think everyone can agree that the start point of a lot of the anger that's propelled us to where we are is because of the legitimate concerns about job loss. Work is gone, a traditional way of life has gone,
Video examples
The world’s most painful...
In fact, insect stings helped enable the evolution of complex colonies that would otherwise represent an easy feast to predators. Some stinging insects are, of course, more aggressive than others, but most of the time, they only sting us when we provoke them.
Video examples
Why governments should...
And I'll touch on the policy implications of that in a moment. But I think, particularly in the world we live in today, it has a deeper resonance. You know, when we focus on well-being, we start a conversation that provokes profound and fundamental questions.
Video examples
Ugandan Chimps Hunting PIPE...
they should do this has provoked a lot of speculation although a ton gogo males share more often with their allies using meat to strengthen these ones the hope of collecting a share of meat may well be the reason for joining in the hunt in the first place
Video examples
How we take back the...
for them other than the war against terrorism? Yeah. The bottom line is that terrorism has always been what we in the intelligence world would call a cover for action. Terrorism is something that provokes an emotional response that allows people
Video examples
The role of disruption...
problem or a question well building can work in the service of real-world problems and real-world impact our nursing solutions that can be tested realized provoke people to action and so I created a design studio 5d a multi-platform
Video examples
Why are eating disorders...
Eating disorders can provoke a powerful sense of powerlessness, but education for individuals, families, and communities helps erode the stigma and improve access to treatment.
Video examples
How to Survive a Gorilla...
the strength of several men gorilla troops are normally shy and peaceful but the dominant male called a silverback will defend his territory if provoked
Video examples
Survival Guide: Gorilla...
the strength of several men gorilla troops are normally shy and peaceful but the dominant male called a silverback will defend his territory if provoked
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Robert Redford
American Actor
I guess I don't like the fact that my life is becoming less and less my own - the prevailing attitude that you have an obligation to deliver yourself to the public. Actually, you're delivered to the public whether you like it or not. I guess if you don't like it, you should stop doing what provokes it. In my case, that's acting.
Quote examples
Garry Trudeau
American Cartoonist
The strips about the military do seem to provoke moving and thoughtful responses. It's nice when the strip resonates, but more importantly, I need to know when I'm getting something wrong. The last thing I want to do is contribute to the suffering that wounded warriors already endure.
Quote examples
Jamie Hyneman
American Entertainer
I never dreamed we would be on television at all, much less for such a long time and with so much praise for keeping a thought provoking show on the air. And best of all, we were able to do what we do and still have all our fingers and toes.
Quote examples
Immanuel Velikovsky
Historian
It is difficult to describe in short the enthusiasm and devotion provoked by and given to my research. We lived almost in poverty. I used pencils, two for a nickel, and could not buy a fountain pen, when I lost mine.
Quote examples
Keith Haring
American Artist
I don't think art is propaganda; it should be something that liberates the soul, provokes the imagination and encourages people to go further. It celebrates humanity instead of manipulating it.
Quote examples
Jimmy Smits
American Actor
You can't get so serious as to not realize that what we do is entertainment, but when you have the chance to provoke thought or advance discussion on a topic, it's just the icing on the cake.
Quote examples
Paulo Coelho
Brazilian Novelist
I am not a self-help writer. I am a self-problem writer. When people read my books, I provoke some things. I cannot justify my work. I do my work; it is up to them to classify it, to judge.
Quote examples
Jerry Lewis
American Comedian
It'll keep you alive for another 10 years if you get yourself a laugh once a day: either provoke it, or look around in the wildest laboratory in the world, the public.
Quote examples
Harold E. Varmus
American Scientist
I saw my friends in medical school seeming to be more engaged with the real world. That provoked a sort of jealousy, and I decided to go to medical school after all.
Quote examples
Henry David Thoreau
American Author
I am sorry to think that you do not get a man's most effective criticism until you provoke him. Severe truth is expressed with some bitterness.
Quote examples
Robert Redford
American Actor
I guess I don't like the fact that my life is becoming less and less my own - the prevailing attitude that you have an obligation to deliver yourself to the public. Actually, you're delivered to the public whether you like it or not. I guess if you don't like it, you should stop doing what provokes it. In my case, that's acting.
Quote examples
Garry Trudeau
American Cartoonist
The strips about the military do seem to provoke moving and thoughtful responses. It's nice when the strip resonates, but more importantly, I need to know when I'm getting something wrong. The last thing I want to do is contribute to the suffering that wounded warriors already endure.
Quote examples
Jamie Hyneman
American Entertainer
I never dreamed we would be on television at all, much less for such a long time and with so much praise for keeping a thought provoking show on the air. And best of all, we were able to do what we do and still have all our fingers and toes.
Quote examples
Immanuel Velikovsky
Historian
It is difficult to describe in short the enthusiasm and devotion provoked by and given to my research. We lived almost in poverty. I used pencils, two for a nickel, and could not buy a fountain pen, when I lost mine.
Quote examples
Keith Haring
American Artist
I don't think art is propaganda; it should be something that liberates the soul, provokes the imagination and encourages people to go further. It celebrates humanity instead of manipulating it.
Quote examples
Jimmy Smits
American Actor
You can't get so serious as to not realize that what we do is entertainment, but when you have the chance to provoke thought or advance discussion on a topic, it's just the icing on the cake.
Quote examples
Paulo Coelho
Brazilian Novelist
I am not a self-help writer. I am a self-problem writer. When people read my books, I provoke some things. I cannot justify my work. I do my work; it is up to them to classify it, to judge.
Quote examples
Jerry Lewis
American Comedian
It'll keep you alive for another 10 years if you get yourself a laugh once a day: either provoke it, or look around in the wildest laboratory in the world, the public.
Quote examples
Harold E. Varmus
American Scientist
I saw my friends in medical school seeming to be more engaged with the real world. That provoked a sort of jealousy, and I decided to go to medical school after all.
Quote examples
Henry David Thoreau
American Author
I am sorry to think that you do not get a man's most effective criticism until you provoke him. Severe truth is expressed with some bitterness.
Example 1 of 10
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