provoke

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

pro·voke [provoke provokes provoked provoking] BrE [prəˈvəʊk] NAmE [prəˈvoʊk] verb
1. ~ sth to cause a particular reaction or have a particular effect
•The announcement provoked a storm of protest.
•The article was intended to provoke discussion.
•Dairy products may provoke allergic reactions in some people.
2. ~ sb (into sth/into doing sth) | ~ sb to do sth to say or do sth that you know will annoy sb so that they react in an angry way
Syn: ↑goad
•The lawyer claimed his client was provoked into acts of violence by the defendant.
•Be careful what you say— he's easily provoked.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
late Middle English (also in the sense ‘invoke, summon’): from Old French provoquer, from Latin provocare ‘challenge’, from pro- ‘forth’ + vocare ‘to call’.

Thesaurus:
provoke verb T
•Her laughter provoked him to fury.
sting • • prod • |especially written goad •
provoke/sting/prod/goad sb into (doing) sth
provoke/sting/prod/goad sb to do sth
provoke/prod/goad sb into action

Example Bank:
•She had been trying to provoke her sister into an argument.
•The report is likely to provoke discussion of this issue.
•The suggestion inevitably provoked outrage from student leaders.
•Their laughter provoked him to anger.
•Be careful what you say— he's easily provoked.
•She laughed aloud, which provoked him to fury.
•Such a decision may provoke a backlash from their supporters.
•The company was provoked into issuing a denial.
•The decision to close the factory has provoked fury.
•The lawyer claimed that his client was provoked into acts of violence by the defendant.
•The minister does not wish to provoke further demonstrations.
•The prison guards deliberately provoke the political prisoners.
•What had she done to provoke his wrath?

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  stimulate, evoke, call forth, kick up, arouse, elicit, enkindle, kindle, fire, raise