#1 provoke v. [arouse, elicit, enkindle, kindle, evoke, fire, raise] call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); "arouse pity"; "raise a smile"; "evoke sympathy". wn
#2 provoke v. [evoke, call forth, kick up] evoke or provoke to appear or occur; "Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple". wn
#3 provoke v. [stimulate] provide the needed stimulus for. wn
#4 provoke v. [harass, hassle, harry, chivy, chivvy, chevy, chevvy, beset, plague, molest] annoy continually or chronically; "He is known to harry his staff when he is overworked"; "This man harasses his female co-workers". wn
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