provoke

• "arouse pity"
• "raise a smile"
• "evoke sympathy"

Synonyms

• arousecall forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); stop sleeping; summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic; cause to be alert and energetic; cause to become awake or conscious; to begin moving; stimulate sexually
• elicitcall forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); deduce (a principle) or construe (a meaning); derive by reason
• enkindlecause to start burning; call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
• kindlecatch fire; cause to start burning; call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
• evokecall forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); evoke or provoke to appear or occur; deduce (a principle) or construe (a meaning); summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic; call to mind
• firethe event of something burning (often destructive); the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy; the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke; a fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning; once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles) ; feelings of great warmth and intensity; fuel that is burning and is used as a means for cooking; a severe trial; intense adverse criticism; start firing a weapon ; cause to go off; bake in a kiln so as to harden; terminate the employment of; go off or discharge; drive out or away by or as if by fire; call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); destroy by fire; provide with fuel; generate an electrical impulse; become ignited; start or maintain a fire in
• raisethe amount a salary is increased; an upward slope or grade (as in a road); increasing the size of a bet (as in poker); the act of raising something; raise the level or amount of something; raise from a lower to a higher position; cause to be heard or known; collect funds for a specific purpose; cultivate by growing, often involving improvements by means of agricultural techniques; look after a child until it is an adult; summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic; move upwards; construct, build, or erect; call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); create a disturbance, especially by making a great noise; raise in rank or condition; increase; give a promotion to or assign to a higher position; cause to puff up with a leaven; bid (one's partner's suit) at a higher level ; bet more than the previous player ; cause to assemble or enlist in the military; put forward for consideration or discussion; pronounce (vowels) by bringing the tongue closer to the roof of the mouth; activate or stir up; establish radio communications with; multiply (a number) by itself a specified number of times: 8 is 2 raised to the power 3 ; bring (a surface or a design) into relief and cause to project; invigorate or heighten; put an end to; cause to become alive again

• "Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple"

Synonyms

• evokecall forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); evoke or provoke to appear or occur; deduce (a principle) or construe (a meaning); summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic; call to mind
• call forthevoke or provoke to appear or occur; summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
• kick upraising the feet backward with the hands on the ground; cause to rise by kicking; evoke or provoke to appear or occur

Synonyms

• stimulateact as a stimulant; cause to do; stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of; cause to be alert and energetic; cause to occur rapidly; stir feelings in; provide the needed stimulus for

• "He is known to harry his staff when he is overworked"
• "This man harasses his female co-workers"

Synonyms

• harassannoy continually or chronically; exhaust by attacking repeatedly
• hassleannoy continually or chronically; an angry disturbance; disorderly fighting
• harryannoy continually or chronically; make a pillaging or destructive raid on (a place), as in wartimes
• chivyannoy continually or chronically
• chivvyannoy continually or chronically
• chevyannoy continually or chronically
• chevvyannoy continually or chronically
• besetannoy continually or chronically; assail or attack on all sides: "The zebra was beset by leopards" ; decorate or cover lavishly (as with gems)
• plaguea serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal ; any epidemic disease with a high death rate ; a swarm of insects that attack plants; any large scale calamity (especially when thought to be sent by God) ; an annoyance; cause to suffer a blight; annoy continually or chronically
• molestharass or assault sexually; annoy continually or chronically