as in aggravated
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in encouraged
to rouse to strong feeling or action
his teasing finally provoked her to anger bees generally will not sting unless they are provoked
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in triggered
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
rankings that are sure to provoke an argument among film buffs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provoked
Joe Palaggi, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026
The law provoked fraught debates in Australia about technology use, privacy, child safety and mental health and has prompted other countries to consider similar measures.
—CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The International Shark Attack File, run by the Florida Museum of Natural History, classifies the attacks as provoked or unprovoked based on whether a human initiated the contact.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
News of the deployment of ICE agents has provoked a backlash in Italy.
—Colleen Barry, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
The troop deployments have provoked legal challenges from local leaders, and some have been successful.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
This was true even before ICE and Border Patrol agents shot and killed two protesters in Minnesota in the past two weeks, violence that has provoked widespread revulsion.
—Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 29 Jan. 2026
At the same time, violence toward legal observers and bystanders is escalating — not because agents are being provoked, but because these operations increasingly proceed without accountability or transparency.
—Jody Agius Vallejo, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
Still, the Justice Department’s choice to focus on charging protesters, while enabling the violence by law enforcement that may have provoked them, is a telling indicator of its priorities.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
The refusal to be endlessly provoked.
—Joe Palaggi, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026
The law provoked fraught debates in Australia about technology use, privacy, child safety and mental health and has prompted other countries to consider similar measures.
—CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The International Shark Attack File, run by the Florida Museum of Natural History, classifies the attacks as provoked or unprovoked based on whether a human initiated the contact.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
News of the deployment of ICE agents has provoked a backlash in Italy.
—Colleen Barry, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
The troop deployments have provoked legal challenges from local leaders, and some have been successful.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
This was true even before ICE and Border Patrol agents shot and killed two protesters in Minnesota in the past two weeks, violence that has provoked widespread revulsion.
—Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 29 Jan. 2026
At the same time, violence toward legal observers and bystanders is escalating — not because agents are being provoked, but because these operations increasingly proceed without accountability or transparency.
—Jody Agius Vallejo, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
Still, the Justice Department’s choice to focus on charging protesters, while enabling the violence by law enforcement that may have provoked them, is a telling indicator of its priorities.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provoked
Adjective
-
Dodd is facing charges of first-degree murder, home invasion, armed violence, residential burglary and aggravated stalking, according to Oswego police.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Rodriguez was convicted in 2020 of stalking and aggravated assault.—
Ronald J. Hansen,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Liu first laced up her skates at five, encouraged by her father, Arthur.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Clearly, the historic performance — one that attempted to illuminate and celebrate the Latin community, people and their past — left her feeling triggered.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
While authorities said 11 of the 12 victims were killed in avalanches triggered by exceptionally unstable conditions on ungroomed backcountry slopes, The Associated Press reported a total of 13 deaths.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Erica Moore, 46, who spent 11 nights in a hotel with her dog and two cats, said she was most frustrated by the poor communication from Nashville Electric Service.—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Still, the optics are deeply damaging for an already frustrated king and the Prince of Wales, multiple royal experts told Fox News Digital.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Suckers can be stimulated to grow for a variety of reasons, such as the vigor of a plant’s root system in situations where the plant is grafted (as many non-native witchhazels and tree cultivars are).—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Economic shifts and declining cost curves have stimulated clean energy in a way that rules could not have done alone.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Additionally, hyperscalers, including Amazon , Microsoft , Meta , and Alphabet , announced capital expenditure of up to $700 billion on AI this year, which has raised concerns over returns and whether the extent of AI spend is justified.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Videos from the killing of Renee Good, a mother of three, in her vehicle, raised questions about the federal agent’s tactics and decision to use deadly force.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That look stirred me and made my heart jump.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Like natural peanut butter, tahini should be stirred before being used.—
Faye Levy,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The judging controversy, however, incited a firestorm that was just getting started.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
-
There is no evidence whatsoever that Pretti obstructed federal law enforcement or incited violence on Saturday.—
Karen Cortes,
NBC news,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provoked. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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