ENGLISH
REFERENCE

provoked

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //pɹəˈvoʊkt// UK //pɹəvˈəʊkt// pro·voked

adj. feeling angry or annoyed because someone did something to upset you on purpose.

adj. feeling a state of irritation or resentment resulting from a deliberate action or stimulus. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'become'.


SIMPLE

He felt provoked by his brother's rude comments.

CONTEXTUAL

The speaker remained calm even when the audience tried to make him feel provoked by shouting questions.

COMPLEX

A provoked individual may react with uncharacteristic aggression if they perceive that their personal boundaries or core values are being intentionally undermined by a peer.

Synonyms
Usage

Often follows a linking verb or appears as a participial adjective modifying a noun.

Pitfall

He was provoked with the news.He was provoked by the news.When describing the cause of the feeling, 'provoked' typically takes the preposition 'by' rather than 'with'.

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