PROVOCATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does provocation mean? 

• PROVOCATION (noun)
  The noun PROVOCATION has 3 senses:

1. unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment

2. something that incites or provokes; a means of arousing or stirring to action

3. needed encouragement

  Familiarity information: PROVOCATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PROVOCATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

aggravation; irritation; provocation

Hypernyms ("provocation" is a kind of...):

aggression (deliberately unfriendly behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "provocation"):

aggro ((informal British usage) aggravation or aggression)

last straw (the final irritation that stretches your patience beyond the limit)

taunt; taunting; twit (aggravation by deriding or mocking or criticizing)

Derivation:

provoke (annoy continually or chronically)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Something that incites or provokes; a means of arousing or stirring to action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting goals

Synonyms:

incitation; incitement; provocation

Hypernyms ("provocation" is a kind of...):

mental energy; psychic energy (an actuating force or factor)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "provocation"):

signal (any incitement to action)

Derivation:

provoke (provide the needed stimulus for)

provoke (evoke or provoke to appear or occur)

provoke (call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Needed encouragement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

incitement; provocation

Context example:

the result was a provocation of vigorous investigation

Hypernyms ("provocation" is a kind of...):

encouragement (the expression of approval and support)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "provocation"):

subornation (underhandedly or improperly inducing someone to do something improper or unlawful)

Derivation:

provoke (provide the needed stimulus for)

 Context examples 

By nature I am, I admit, somewhat fiery, and under provocation I am inclined to be violent.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Now, look here, Captain Crocker, this is a very serious matter, though I am willing to admit that you acted under the most extreme provocation to which any man could be subjected.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

No provocation was great enough to draw from him that canine cry.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

However, when there are three or more strains present, provocation causes the other competing strains to increase their aggression and attack each other.

(Bacteria Can 'Divide and Conquer' to Vanquish Their Enemies, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself; and was very thankful that Marianne was not present, to share the provocation.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

I don't wish to get cross, so let's change the subject; and Jo looked quite ready to fling cold water on the slightest provocation.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A “miners’ meeting,” called on the spot, decided that the dog had sufficient provocation, and Buck was discharged.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Being, by that time, rather tired of this kind of life, and having received new provocation from the butcher, I throw the flower away, go out with the butcher, and gloriously defeat him.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Whereupon, the malicious rogue, watching his opportunity, when I was walking under one of them, shook it directly over my head, by which a dozen apples, each of them near as large as a Bristol barrel, came tumbling about my ears; one of them hit me on the back as I chanced to stoop, and knocked me down flat on my face; but I received no other hurt, and the dwarf was pardoned at my desire, because I had given the provocation.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Former provocations reappeared.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)