Provoke
Verb
Definition: To deliberately make someone angry or annoyed.
Definition: To stimulate a reaction or response, often negative or aggressive.
Synonyms: Irritate, Incite, Agitate, Inflame
Antonyms: Calm, Pacify, Soothe
Examples:
- His rude comment provoked her to yell at him.
- The controversial article provoked a heated debate among readers.
Mnemonics:
- Think of 'provoke' as "pro" (in favor of) + "vocare" (to call). It's like calling someone to be angry.
Etymology:
Origin:
Late Middle English from Old French 'provoker', from Latin 'provocare', from pro- (forward) + vocare (to call).
Historical Usage:The word has been used since the late Middle English period and its meaning has remained relatively consistent.
Related Idioms:
Idiom:
"Provoke a reaction"
Explanation:To intentionally cause a response, often of anger or disagreement.
Misconceptions:
Misconception:
Confusing 'provoke' with 'provoke to anger'.
Explanation:While provoking someone often involves making them angry, it can also encompass provoking other reactions such as annoyance or agitation.