provocation
4 synonyms for provocation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of deliberately annoying, angering, or inciting someone.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use provocation
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
without provocation
act of provocation
deliberate provocation
Etymology
From Old French provocacion, from Latin provocatio, from provocare, "to call forth, challenge" — the noun form of provoke.
Full origin of provocation →Frequently asked questions
What does “provocation” mean?
The word “provocation” means the act of deliberately annoying, angering, or inciting someone. In plain terms, something that deliberately triggers anger, action, or conflict.
How do you pronounce “provocation”?
“Provocation” is pronounced pro-vuh-KAY-shuhn (/ˌpɹɑvəˈkeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “provocation” in a sentence?
Here is “provocation” used in a sentence: “He threw the first punch without any provocation at all.”
What part of speech is “provocation”?
“Provocation” is a noun.
Where does the word “provocation” come from?
The word “provocation” comes from Latin. From Old French provocacion, from Latin provocatio, from provocare, "to call forth, challenge" — the noun form of provoke.
Is “provocation” a common word?
“Provocation” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “provocation” have?
“Provocation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of deliberately annoying, angering, or inciting someone.
