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[ verb ] provide the needed stimulus for
Synonyms Used in print (Time magazine, 77:3...)A clot forms at the site , seals_off the flow of blood to the heart and provokes a heart_attack . (Peter Eldersveld, "Faith Amid Fear"...)It is said that fear in human_beings produces an odor that provokes animals to attack . (Clifford Irving, The Valley....)It was a fair fight , the boy provoked it - Big_Charlie told me so . Related terms |
| 2 |
[ verb ] call forth; of emotions, feelings, and responses
Examples "arouse pity" "raise a smile" "evoke sympathy" Used in print (Allan J. Braff and Roger F. Miller, "Wage-Price...)The threat of effective anti-trust action , provoked by `` gouging the public '' through price increases not justified by cost increases , and fears of endangering relations with customers , Congress , the general public and the press , all operate to keep price increases in some relation to cost increases . |
| 3 |
[ verb ] call forth
Synonyms Examples "Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple" Used in print (John R. Sargent, "Where To Aim Your Planning for Bigger...)If companies will take the time to give objective consideration to their major problems and to the questions they provoke , then a long constructive step will have been taken toward more effective marketing in next decade . |
| 4 |
[ verb ] annoy continually or chronically
Examples "He is known to harry his staff when he is overworked" "This man harasses his female co-workers" Used in print (Jim Thompson, The Transgressors....)Otherwise , she would be baited into a tantrum - teased and provoked until she lost control of herself , and thus lost still another battle in the maddening struggle of Tom_Lord Vs. Joyce_Lakewood . Related terms annoy nettle torment haze fuss aggravation plague harasser harassment |
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