How to Use provoke in a Sentence

provoke

verb

• He just says those things because he's trying to provoke you.
• His remarks provoked both tears and laughter.
• The animal will not attack unless it is provoked.
• This provokes the ire of Tedros, who slaps him hard across the face.
  — Katcy Stephan, Variety, 18 June 2023
• But the White House fears this would provoke Mr. Putin.
  — The Editorial Board, WSJ, 17 Dec. 2021
• Mace clearly knows how to please—and provoke—people on both sides of the aisle.
  — Will Yakowicz, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2022
• One thing is clear though, Musk continues to provoke the ire of the SEC with such statements.
  — Anat Alon-Beck, Forbes, 13 May 2022
• The moon’s clash with Leo provokes emotional ups and downs.
  — USA TODAY, 9 July 2024
• The moon’s clash with Mars provokes high-drama moments.
  — USA TODAY, 1 June 2023
• On Bannon’s podcast, Vance said the point of the ad was to provoke criticism.
  — Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 17 Apr. 2022
• Pushing the people in your domestic sphere to bend to your will could provoke them to rebel.
  — Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2022
• The second-chorus scene in the hospital nursery, the singer dressed in scrubs and talking with the doctor, provoked some of the tears in the room.
  — Tom Roland, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2023
• To be provoked at all by Aggro Dr1ft, or Harmony Korine, is to take the bait.
  — John Semley, WIRED, 9 Oct. 2023
• And Europe’s largest armed conflict since the end of the world war, provoked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  — Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Sep. 2023
• The story repeated to those in mourning may not provoke a smile.
  — George Castle, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022
• Neither coach Gard nor his staff had any intent to provoke or incite any of what took place.
  — Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2022
• Neither Coach Gard nor his staff had any intent to provoke or incite any of what took place.
  — Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, 22 Feb. 2022
• Provocation Also, ask what makes the pain worse, or provokes it.
  — Jenny Sweigard, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2024
• She was conflicted about what to do - whether to cut it off or continue so as not to provoke him.
  — BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2023
• The move opens the latest chapter amid fears around the world that Russia might invade Ukraine or provoke in some other way.
  — Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2022
• Those who did talk with Variety all agreed that the best defense is to avoid provoking fandoms in the first place.
  — Adam B. Vary, Variety, 3 Oct. 2024
• The Halloween Tree is a heartwarming and thought provoking story that both kids and adults can learn from.
  — Anna Mahan, Country Living, 29 Aug. 2023
• Jennifer's fake emails seemed designed to provoke Lopez to kill Jamie in order to protect her.
  — CBS News, 9 Apr. 2022
• In other words, hot enough to convince the Russians that the country was not worth the struggle, but not so hot to provoke a broader war in the region.
  — New York Times, 19 Mar. 2022
• The fact that the stone bridge was underwater provokes the question of its preservation.
  — Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 5 Sep. 2024
• The return to payments is likely to provoke more defaults.
  — Eleni Schirmer, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2023
• But its run was short-lived, as the ad was subjected to backlash, provoking calls for boycotts and bomb threats against Ikea stores.
  — Taylor Telford, Washington Post, 16 June 2023
• This seems to provoke a big question for scientists: Why didn't life form on Bennu?
  — Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2025
• Helly bursts out laughing at the tale and provokes an angry, marshmallow-burning reaction from Milchick.
  — Katcy Stephan, Variety, 7 Feb. 2025
• Carrington provoked Clark fans prior to the eye-poking incident with multiple statements berating Clark and her fan base.
  — Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 31 Jan. 2025

Last Updated: 1 Mar 2025