Sentences with provoke
pro·voke
P p - To provoke a smile
- He started beating me when I was about fifteen but I didn't do anything to provoke him. [VERB noun]
- SYNONYMY NOTE: provoke, in this connection, implies rather generally an arousing to some action or feeling [thought-provoking]; excite suggests a more powerful or profound stirring or moving of the thoughts or emotions [it excites my imagination]; stimulate implies an arousing as if by goading or pricking and, hence, often connotes a bringing out of a state of inactivity or indifference [to stimulate one's enthusiasm]; pique suggests a stimulating as if by irritating mildly [to pique one's curiosity]
- His election success has provoked a shocked reaction. [VERB noun]
- The mishap provoked a hearty laugh.
- What could have provoked such an incident?