provokes

Verb

provoke (third-person singular simple present provokes, present participle provoking, simple past and past participle provoked)

1. (transitive) To cause someone to become annoyed or angry.
   • Don't provoke the dog; it may try to bite you.

   Synonyms:

   harass, set off, vex, aggravate, annoy, nettle, rankle, ruffle, sting, burn someone's ass

2. (transitive) To bring about a reaction.
   • To the poet the meaning is what he pleases to make it, what it provokes in his own soul.1881, John Burroughs, Pepacton

   Synonyms:

   incite, inflame, instigate, whip up, abet, actuate, goose, fuel, light a fire under, send

3. (obsolete) To appeal.
   • Even Arius and Pelagius durst provoke
     To what the centuries preceding spoke.[1682], [John] Dryden, Religio Laici or A Laymans Faith. A Poem, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC