PROVOKES Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

provokes

verb

present tense third-person singular of provoke

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

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as in raises

to bring (something volatile or intense) into being rankings that are sure to provoke an argument among film buffs

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of provokes The rooms were part of Kusama’s ongoing exploration of self-obliteration and her career-long ambition to create work that provokes a keen awareness of both one’s individual insignificance and place in the wider cosmic system. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 Now, new research reveals this kind of high-intensity training provokes a remarkably robust response throughout the bloodstream. — Will Stone, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026 The film starts in nature, and the whole experience provokes ideas and inspires something closer to poetry than nostalgia. — Jesse Kirshbaum, SPIN, 7 Aug. 2026 The second provokes disappointment, but both provide closure. — Alejandro Cárdenas Villa, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 In my own research, threatening a man’s sense of manhood – but not a woman’s womanhood – reliably provokes aggression, and the men who react most strongly are those who feel the most pressure to live up to masculine ideals. — Adam Stanaland, The Conversation, 20 July 2026 However, his light-hearted approach provokes the hostility of the church. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 17 July 2026 Indeed, of all the mid-century American novels to stand the test of time, perhaps only On the Road provokes a comparably polarizing response among contemporary readers. — Book Marks, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 Another friend recounted the ins-and-outs of her 11-year-old’s baseball league, which provokes more political intrigue than a Hilary Mantel novel. — Mary Pauline Lowry, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for provokes

Verb

The bark can also be stripped from the branch, called girdling, which encourages faster root growth.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Mid-month, however, encourages you to indulge your creativity, rather than forcing big decisions.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of encourages

Verb

And autonomy raises the cost of error, because outputs turn into actions.

— Emily Lewis-Pinnell, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
The Federal Open Market Committee typically raises rates to help tame inflation, which rose faster than paychecks over the year in July and has remained above the Fed’s 2% target for five years.

— Rachel Barber, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of raises

Verb

Stronger trade winds help to move warm surface water away from the South American coast, which stimulates upwelling—that is, the movement of cold, dense, and nutrient-rich deep ocean water toward the surface.

— John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026
That extra load stimulates bones to grow denser and challenges muscles to adapt.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of stimulates

Verb

Key Takeaways Eating three dates in the morning can support blood sugar and digestion throughout the day by providing fiber that slows the absorption of sugar and promotes regular bowel movements.

— Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2026
Living according to these rules holds up a divine standard for others to see and follow, which promotes harmony and order between people.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of promotes

Verb

But after two decades in the rearview, Pluto’s demotion still stirs anger and controversy, and many people regard its change in status as a very bad thing.

— Mike Brown, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2026
That’s just one example of how Healy has become the straw that stirs the drink for the Huskies.

— Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of stirs

Verb

Touch guides drone The first tactile contact triggers a change in the drone’s behavior.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
That light exposure triggers the production of chlorophyll in the potato’s skin (the same pigment responsible for turning leaves green).

— Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of triggers

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“Provokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provokes. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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verb

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