provoke
pruh-VOHK
/prəˈvoʊk/
To deliberately act or speak in a way that causes a specific reaction, typically anger or a physical response.
Provoke is a broad term; it can be a deliberate strategy to get someone to reveal their true feelings or a reckless act that invites retaliation.
The story behind the word. In ancient Roman law, 'provocatio' was a citizen's right to appeal to the people against the summary decision of a magistrate. It was literally a 'calling forth' of the public's protection. Over time, the legal 'call' became a more general 'calling out' or challenging of someone, leading to our modern sense of stirring up trouble.
Word relationships
- instigate: Instigate focuses more on the initiation of a process or event, while provoke focuses on the emotional reaction of a person.
- mollify: Mollify means to soothe or reduce the anger of someone, the exact opposite of provoking them.
Commonly confused with
- evoke: Evoke means to bring a memory or feeling to mind (like a smell evoking childhood), whereas provoke is more aggressive and usually results in an action or anger.
Word family
- provocation (noun): The act of provoking or the thing that provokes.
- provocative (adjective): Causing a strong reaction, often intentionally.
Collocations
- provoke a reaction
- provoke an attack
- deliberately provoke
- provoke a crisis
Idioms & expressions
- provoke a hornet's nest
Example sentences
- "It is a law of nature we cannot help, but the more you provoke us, the more we shall resist." A classic literary observation on human nature and reaction.
- "The lawyer tried to provoke the witness into an emotional outburst to undermine his credibility." Describing a tactical move in a debate.
Memory hook
Think of a 'Pro' (professional) 'Vocalist' (voice) calling you out to start a fight. Pro-voke: Calling forth a fight.
When not to use
Do not use 'provoke' if the reaction is purely internal and quiet; it usually implies an outward manifestation or a 'calling forth' of a response.
Fun facts
- In biology, a 'provocative test' is a procedure where a symptom is intentionally induced to diagnose a condition.
Related words
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