provoke

[ pruh-vohk ]
/ prəˈvoʊk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR provoke ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), pro·voked, pro·vok·ing.

to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex.
to stir up, arouse, or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity): The mishap provoked a hearty laugh.
to incite or stimulate (a person, animal, etc.) to action.
to give rise to, induce, or bring about: What could have provoked such an incident?
Obsolete. to summon.

Origin of provoke

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin prōvocāre to call forth, challenge, provoke, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + vocāre to call; akin to vōx voice

synonym study for provoke

1. See irritate. 2, 3. See incite.

OTHER WORDS FROM provoke

Words nearby provoke

provitamin d2, provo, provocateur, provocation, provocative, provoke, provoking, provolone, provost, provost court, provost guard

Words related to unprovoked

baseless, undue, gratuitous, unjust, unreasonable, unjustified, groundless, inexcusable, unjustifiable, unconscionable, unfair, unfounded, indefensible, needless, senseless, vicious, arbitrary, willful, unwarranted, wanton

Example sentences from the Web for unprovoked

British Dictionary definitions for unprovoked (1 of 2)

unprovoked
/ (ʌnprəˈvəʊkt) /

adjective

not provoked by anything done or said

British Dictionary definitions for unprovoked (2 of 2)

provoke
/ (prəˈvəʊk) /

verb (tr)

to anger or infuriate
to cause to act or behave in a certain manner; incite or stimulate
to promote (certain feelings, esp anger, indignation, etc) in a person
obsolete to summon

Derived forms of provoke

provoking, adjective provokingly, adverb

Word Origin for provoke

C15: from Latin prōvocāre to call forth, from vocāre to call