- present tense form of provoke (3rd person singular).
provokes
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Truly creative and inspiring art undermines that goal, because it provokes responses like empathy and critical thinking in audiences — which gets in the way of authoritarian domination.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
But whether they found it indispensable or utterly disgusting, it was clear that ranch provokes strong opinions, which is essential for success in the attention economy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
The worry "is that the tariff threat provokes retaliatory actions by the EU, triggering a new trade war," said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare.
From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026
"The idea is that it provokes thought – even though there's a lot of tragedy and disaster, it doesn't mean it isn't a good time to be alive."
From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2025
It's a voice that provokes first irritation and then eagerness.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
