provoke
pruh-VOHK
/prəˈvoʊk/
To stimulate or give rise to a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one; to deliberately annoy someone.
Often has a negative connotation (provoking anger), but can be positive (provoking thought).
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'provocare', meaning 'to call forth' or 'to challenge'. It combines 'pro-' (forth) and 'vocare' (to call).
Word relationships
- incite: Incite usually refers to stirring up violent or unlawful behavior.
- goad: Goad implies prodding someone into action, often through annoyance.
- soothe: Soothe means to calm or reduce agitation.
- mollify: Mollify means to appease the anger or anxiety of someone.
Commonly confused with
- evoke: Evoke is to call forth a memory or feeling (internal); provoke is to call forth a reaction or anger (external).
Word family
- provocation (noun): Action or speech that makes someone annoyed or angry.
- provocative (adjective): Causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction.
Collocations
- provoke a reaction
- provoke a response
- thought-provoking
- unprovoked attack
Example sentences
- "The article was intended to provoke a public debate on the issue." Conflict
- "Be careful not to provoke the dog while it is eating." Personal interaction
Memory hook
To provoke is to 'call forth' (pro-voc) a fight. Provoke = Pro-voice (calling forth a reaction).
When not to use
Don't use 'provoke' for physical pushing; it is about calling forth a reaction.
Fun facts
- In legal terms, 'provocation' can sometimes be used as a mitigating factor in a defense.
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