antagonize

Zohran Mamdani, who just swept to victory in the New York City mayoral race, already faces his next big challenge: making the right hires without alienating loyalists or further antagonizing skeptics.

They are antagonizing the locals in hopes that someone will throw a punch, which could then used to justify unleashing even more fascist violence.

Some also contend the deal has unnecessarily antagonized China, Australia’s main trading partner.

When a person goes to the store and finds almost everything locked up behind plastic because of shoplifting, they may feel antagonized and triggered.

For the Islamic Republic’s leaders, who have defied and antagonized Israel — and the U.S. — for decades, that they emerged bruised but not beaten serves as proof they should continue.