provoked

3 definitions • 5 examples

past simple and past participle of

to cause a reaction, especially a negative one:

The prospect of increased prices has already provoked an outcry.

Test results provoked worries that the reactor could overheat.

to make or try to make a person or an animal angry:

It was a vicious-looking dog and I didn't want to provoke it.

He was clearly trying to get at me but I refused to be provoked.

I was provoked into the argument.