provokingly
|pro-vo-k-ing-ly|
🇺🇸
/prəˈvoʊk/
🇬🇧
/prəˈvəʊk/
(provoke)
incite reaction
Etymology
'provokingly' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'provocare,' where 'pro-' meant 'forward' and 'vocare' meant 'to call.'
'provokingly' developed from the verb 'provoke' (Middle English from Old French 'provoquer' and Latin 'provocare'), then the adjective 'provoking' was formed, and finally the adverbial suffix '-ly' produced 'provokingly.'
Initially, 'provocare' meant 'to call forth' or 'to challenge,' and over time it evolved into the sense of 'to arouse or stimulate (emotion, reaction),' which is reflected in modern 'provokingly.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a deliberate or annoying way intended to elicit anger, irritation, or a strong emotional reaction.
She smiled provokingly at him, clearly trying to get a response.
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Adverb 2
in a way that intentionally stimulates thought, discussion, or curiosity (i.e., challengingly or intriguingly).
The artist arranged the exhibit provokingly to make viewers question conventional beauty.
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Last updated: 2025/12/20 17:06