provoking
/provoking/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Causing or tending to cause anger, annoyance, or strong negative feelings: "Provoking" describes something that stimulates or incites a reaction of irritation, resentment, or anger.
- Intentionally stimulating a reaction: It can also describe an action or behavior deliberately designed to elicit a response, often a negative or argumentative one.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- His provoking comments during the meeting led to a heated argument.
- The constant noise from the construction site was extremely provoking.
- She gave him a provoking smile, knowing it would annoy him.
Advanced Usage
- "to be provoking": to act in a manner that is intentionally annoying or stimulating.
- Stop being so provoking; you know that topic is sensitive.
- Used in formal or literary contexts: Often describes situations, remarks, or behaviors that are vexing or galling.
- The provoking injustice of the situation was hard to bear.
Variants and Related Words
- Provoke (verb): To stimulate or give rise to a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one.
- His actions were meant to provoke a response.
- Provocative (adjective): Causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction, especially deliberately. Often overlaps with "provoking" but can also imply stimulation of thought, interest, or sexual desire.
- She wrote a provocative article on the subject.
- Provocation (noun): Action or speech that makes someone annoyed or angry, especially deliberately.
- He reacted violently under provocation.
Synonyms
- Annoying: Causing irritation or bother.
- Irritating: Causing annoyance, impatience, or mild anger.
- Galling: Causing annoyance or resentment; humiliating.
- Vexing: Causing annoyance, frustration, or worry.
- Inflammatory: Arousing or intended to arouse angry or violent feelings.
Antonyms
- Soothing: Having a calming, gentle, or relieving effect.
- Pacifying: Tending to calm or bring peace.
- Pleasing: Giving a feeling of satisfaction or enjoyment.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "A provoking sight/sound": A sight or sound that is particularly irritating or anger-inducing.
- The graffiti on the historic monument was a provoking sight.
- "Beyond provoking": So annoying as to be intolerable.
- His stubborn refusal to listen was beyond provoking.
Adjective
- causing or tending to cause anger or resentment
- a provoking delay at the airport