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provocation Definition

provo·ca·tion (präv′ə kās̸hən)

noun

  1. an act or instance of provoking
  2. something that provokes; esp., a cause of resentment or irritation

Etymology: ME provocacion < MFr provocation < L provocatio

provocation Synonyms

provocation

n.

incitement, stimulus, inducement; see incentive.

provocation Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • give: The noble earl has talked of the provocation given by the Chinese government by the language of British subjects.
  • have: And if ever a man had provocation to speak unadvisedly with his lips it was he.
  • need: I don't think anyone who learned their trade at Wimbledon needs provocation.
  • use: Split into 2 small groups: Role play chairing a discussion and taking notes, using the provocations below.
  • avoid: But they kept their distance in an attempt to avoid provocation.
  • make: Counsel for the appellant submitted that the Crown had made provocation an issue and that accordingly the judge should have summed up on provocation.

Adjective modifier

  • slight: Then hundreds of people begin clapping above their heads without the slightest provocation from the stage.
  • deliberate: Yet every day thousands of miles of British bus lanes seem to stand idly by in deliberate provocation of the motoring public.
  • extreme: Thankfully the English have, for the most part, risen above such xenophobia despite the extreme provocation of the Scottish Labor Party.
  • least: Why are teenagers are so likely to slam the door at the least provocation?
  • unnecessary: Kotar did, so a wise man didn't offer him any unnecessary provocation.
  • military: Military provocations became more frequent inside the Republic and at its borders.

Modifies a noun

  • paper: Read Seminar 3 provocation paper Read Seminar 3 report What do we mean by personalized learning?
  • test: A provocation test, performed by getting the patient to handle carrots under controlled conditions, was positive.
  • challenge: Thus, the IOC also accepts the results of so-called ' provocation challenges ' .
  • testing: Overall there is little supporting evidence to perform inhalational provocation testing in all asthmatics before diving.

Noun used with modifier

  • police: The march passed off peacefully, despite usual police provocation, & finished with speeches & delicious vegan food by Veggies!

Preposition: in

  • order: The Third International spreads the most venomous slanders, lies and provocations in order to prevent the Spanish working class from freeing itself.

Preposition: of

  • violence: An essential part of this policy is found in the shameless threats of bloody repressions and the provocations of open violence.
provocation Quotes

Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fatherstempted me, proved me, and saw my work.Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

—Bible (Old Testament)

Ask you what provocation I have had? The strong antipathy of good to bad.

—Pope, Alexander

Browse dictionary entries near provocation

  1. provocateur
  2. Provo
  3. provitamin
  4. provisory
  5. proviso
  6. provisionally
  7. provisional remedy
  8. provisional
  9. provision
  10. provirus
  1. provocative
  2. provoke
  3. provoked
  4. provoking
  5. provolone
  6. provost
  7. provost court
  8. provost guard
  9. prow
  10. prowess