Meaning & use

provocation

noun·Academic

An action or remark intended to make someone angry or to provoke a reaction, especially a hostile one.

See it in a sentence

The soldier was warned not to respond to enemy provocation along the border.

His constant insults were clearly a provocation designed to start a fight.

A note on using this word

"Under provocation" is a common legal and everyday phrase describing behavior triggered by another's provoking actions.

Words with a similar meaning

incitementgoading

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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