v.激起；v.激怒,
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
provoke (verb)transitive verb
1.
a) archaic to arouse to a feeling or action
b) to incite to anger
2.
a) to call forth (as a feeling or action) - evoke provoke laughter
b) to stir up purposely - provoke a fight
c) to the needed stimulus for - provide will provoke a lot of discussion
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
provoke (verb)1.
to rouse to strong feeling or action
SYNONYMS:
arouse, encourage, excite, fire (up), impassion, incite, instigate, move, pique, rev (up), spark, stimulate, stirRELATED WORDS:
fan, ignite, inflame ( enflame), kindle, trigger; activate, animate, drive, energize, galvanize, induce, inspire, key (up), motivate, motive, pump up, quicken, set off, vitalize; abet, ferment, foment, raise, whip (up); anger, enrage, madden, upset; jeer, taunt, tease; aggravate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get, irritate, vexNEAR ANTONYMS:
calm, soothe, subdue, tranquilize ( tranquillize); appease, mollify, pacify, placate2.
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
SYNONYMS:
abet, brew, ferment, foment, instigate, pick, provoke, raise, stir (up), whip (up)RELATED WORDS:
advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote, sow, stimulate; detonate, set, set off, trigger; excite, galvanize, inflame ( enflame), inspire, motivate, rouse; activate, energize, enliven, fire, invigorate, jazz (up), liven (up), pep (up), quicken, stimulate, vitalizeNEAR ANTONYMS:
bridle, check, constrain, curb, discourage, hold, inhibit, regulate, rein (in), restrain, tame; allay, calm, quiet, settle, soothe, still, subdue, tranquilize ( tranquillize)