Provocation

Provocation is an action or statement that deliberately makes someone annoyed or angry, especially in order to elicit a reaction or response. It often involves inciting or stirring up feelings of resentment, hostility, or indignation. The intent may range from a desire to see a specific response, to a malicious intention to cause harm, or to gauge a person's emotional stability. It can be direct, like a personal insult, or subtle, such as a pointed silence. The key characteristic is the calculated attempt to trigger a reaction in another party, whether verbal, physical, or emotional. Often, the aim is to bait or goad the other party into doing or saying something that might put them at a disadvantage.

Provocation meaning with examples

• His constant criticism, bordering on insults, was a deliberate provocation, designed to make her lose her temper and reveal her weaknesses. It seemed he reveled in upsetting her. She tried to remain calm, understanding his strategy, and saw it for what it was - his calculated attempt to undermine her.
• The journalist published a series of inflammatory articles as a provocation against the government, seeking to provoke a strong reaction and expose perceived corruption. This action sparked heated public debates and raised questions about journalistic ethics.
• The ambassador's seemingly innocuous comments about the other country's border policies were viewed by many as a strategic provocation, likely meant to test the boundaries and gauge their readiness for negotiation.
• His aggressive social media posts, filled with hateful rhetoric, constituted a clear provocation towards specific groups, inciting anger and hostility among their supporters. Authorities were concerned about the potential for violence.
• During the peace talks, the seemingly innocent act of flying military planes through the disputed airspace was interpreted as a calculated provocation, undermining the fragile diplomatic process and threatening to reignite the conflict.