Meanings
- gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of provoke
comparative more provoking · superlative most provoking
- annoying; irritating
Would you stop interrupting me, dear? It's a most provoking habit.
plural provokings
- provocation
The habit of mind so engendered is wholly demoralizing, particularly since the national political consciousness is so dependent on their provokings.
1974, Clifford Adelman, No Loaves, No Parables; Liberal Politics and the American Language
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectivecausing or tending to cause anger or resentment
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Cite this entry
provoking. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/provoking
“provoking.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/provoking. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “provoking,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/provoking.
Source: provoking on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.