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.

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