1
as in encourages
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in raises
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
rankings that are sure to provoke an argument among film buffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provokes
Fogel is always looking for the visual angle that provokes an emotional response.
—
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
This ends up being just one of Aemond’s defining moments, which further provokes war.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
This brings us to sovereignty, and why foreign involvement provokes less outrage than outsiders might expect.
—Helena Carpio, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
The result is a film that provokes thought more than feeling, one that invites discussion, while denying audiences the emotional dimension that might have driven home its relevance.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
But when her latest husband, discord spirit Raksh, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina must clean up his blunder, contend with Marjana’s demands for the truth…and figure out who on her crew is plotting a mutiny.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
Storytelling is endlessly contested, and recourse to propaganda provokes resistance and derision.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Mercury in Sagittarius provokes your mind to venture into uncharted territory.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Blue Film provokes and captivates in equal measure, with the naked honesty of a black box off-off-Broadway play.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
This ends up being just one of Aemond’s defining moments, which further provokes war.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
This brings us to sovereignty, and why foreign involvement provokes less outrage than outsiders might expect.
—Helena Carpio, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
The result is a film that provokes thought more than feeling, one that invites discussion, while denying audiences the emotional dimension that might have driven home its relevance.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
But when her latest husband, discord spirit Raksh, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina must clean up his blunder, contend with Marjana’s demands for the truth…and figure out who on her crew is plotting a mutiny.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
Storytelling is endlessly contested, and recourse to propaganda provokes resistance and derision.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Mercury in Sagittarius provokes your mind to venture into uncharted territory.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Blue Film provokes and captivates in equal measure, with the naked honesty of a black box off-off-Broadway play.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provokes
Verb
-
And, adds Scott, with a smile, Billy (their French poodle who has appeared in this column before) encourages donations to animal protection organizations.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Days ahead of the 2026 Grammys, Elton John encourages young artists to follow their dreams while introducing the Best New Artist nominees in a short film from Spotify.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The viewing party raises funds to support the foundation’s mission to end new HIV transmissions and dismantle the stigma that continues to fuel the epidemic.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
-
And consuming more beverages containing artificial sweeteners raises the risk of death from any cause and Alzheimer’s disease, based on moderately good evidence.—
Michael I Goran,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When applied to the scalp, minoxidil increases blood flow and stimulates your hair follicles to regrow hair.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The two ingredients are packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to help support a healthy scalp and promote blood circulation, which stimulates hair follicles.—
Melony Forcier,
InStyle,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The event, which promotes TV shows and movies for the year and beyond, had only been announced to the press.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Jan. 2026
-
North Dakota and Rhode Island have among the most restrictive statewide bans, requiring phones be kept in inaccessible storage, according to an analysis by the Institute for Families and Technology, a nonprofit that promotes digital safety for children.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Michaelson asked Fisher about a particular conversation between the two former Lakers that still stirs strong emotions for the 18-year NBA veteran.—
Monica Haider,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Paul Mescal stirs as the Bard, complete with an earring, but his co-star Buckley breathes heart-wrenching life into Hamnet.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the brain, the virus leads to an immune response that triggers inflammation, can damage brain cells, and can even shrink brain volume, according to research on imaging studies that was published in March 2022 in the journal Nature.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Turns out the combination of hot liquid, salt and easily digestible carbohydrates triggers multiple comfort responses in our bodies.—
Cheryl Russell,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
3 Feb. 2026
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Supporting efforts in Minnesota inspires local action Nic Banach moved back to Milwaukee in January 2025 after spending years in Minnesota.—
Alyssa N. Salcedo,
jsonline.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While the technology behind agents will, no doubt, continue to change and grow, organizations that retain the highest benefits from it are likely to be those that bring people along for the changes technology incites.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
23 Dec. 2025
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Until then, the only limits on their selections were Vimeo’s standard terms of service, which prohibit content that incites violence or qualifies as pornographic.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provokes. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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