evoke anger

USAGE SUMMARY

'evoke anger' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that stirs strong emotions of anger in someone. For example, "The politician's speech was so inflammatory that it managed to evoke anger even in the most moderate people in the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Cognitive and Behavioral Practice

Forbes

Los Angeles Times

WikiHow

Duke University

The New York Times

The New Yorker

Huffington Post

HuffPost

Vice

BMC Public Health

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The strategies derive from a counterconditioning treatment model: patients are exposed (either naturally or by design) to situations that may evoke anger, while they apply physiological, cognitive, and/or behavioral methods that can dampen the habitually angry response.

Cognitive and Behavioral Practice

This type of mistake can evoke anger and fear, leading to distrust among the general public.

Forbes

The names J. David Dominelli in San Diego (real estate investment) or Ronn Morrow in Sacramento (financial planning) evoke anger and frustration among duped clients, all of whom lost money and many of whom expected protection from federal securities laws or professional organizations.

Los Angeles Times

It is very important to be an extremely good listener at this point because if you will try to interrupt the other person when he/she is talking, it will only evoke anger and no ground will be reached.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

These results support the hypothesis that hostile people exhibit excessive behaviorally induced cardiovascular responses to interpersonally challenging tasks that evoke anger-related emotional states.

Duke University

The jail sentences evoked anger and surprise among the politicians' supporters in New York this week.

The New York Times

With delicate comedy, exquisite sensibility, and calm wit, Suleiman evokes anger, regret, and frustration; the cause of this bilious build-up is manifestly political, but he doesn't express it in political terms.

The New Yorker

The psychodrama of the arrest of parents for scams they employed to get their children into the "best" colleges evokes anger and guilt and pushes many buttons: how affluent parents help their kids, the magic attached to getting into the elite colleges and the general unfairness of college admissions.

Forbes

This was, for me, the most chilling aspect of the story, and it evoked anger.

Huffington Post

Their appalling behavior evoked anger and rage which, while understandable, is nonproductive unless it is properly channeled.

HuffPost

Christopher Hitchens evokes anger, pain, love, war, calm, peace, strife, extravagance, and one thousand other emotions that are too myriad to contain on these pages.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "evoke anger" to describe situations or actions that predictably cause feelings of anger. It's most effective when the cause is less direct than simply 'making someone angry'.

Common error

Avoid using "evoke anger" when a simpler term like "anger" or "make angry" is more direct and suitable. "Evoke anger" is best when describing something that indirectly leads to anger or stirs latent feelings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "evoke anger" functions as a verb phrase where "evoke" acts as a transitive verb requiring an object (in this case, "anger"). As shown by Ludwig, it describes the act of bringing about or stimulating the emotion of anger.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "evoke anger" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe situations or stimuli that cause feelings of anger. While not as common as simpler alternatives, it carries a nuanced meaning suggesting a more indirect or suggestive causation. As noted by Ludwig, its usage is considered correct and usable in written English. The phrase appears in a variety of contexts, from news articles to academic research, reflecting its general acceptability. When writing, remember that "evoke anger" is most effective when the cause is less direct; otherwise, terms like "anger" or "make angry" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arouse anger

Focuses more directly on stirring up the emotion of anger.

provoke anger

Suggests a more intentional act of causing anger.

trigger anger

Implies a specific stimulus that initiates anger.

incite anger

Indicates a more active and potentially public stirring of anger.

generate anger

Emphasizes the creation or production of anger.

instigate anger

Suggests initiating anger, often in a planned way.

stir up anger

Implies awakening or reviving dormant anger.

cause resentment

Shifts the focus to the feeling of resentment, which is closely related to anger.

foster animosity

Highlights the creation of animosity, a more sustained form of anger.

inflame passions

Describes stirring up strong emotions, including anger.

FAQs

How can I use "evoke anger" in a sentence?

You can use "evoke anger" to describe something that prompts feelings of anger. For example, "The politician's broken promises "evoked anger" among his constituents."

What words are similar to "evoke anger"?

Similar phrases include "arouse anger", "provoke anger", or "trigger anger". Each has slightly different nuances, such as intentionality or immediacy.

Is it better to say "evoke anger" or "cause anger"?

"Evoke anger" implies a more indirect or suggestive causation, while "cause anger" is more direct. The best choice depends on the context and the intended nuance.

What's the difference between "evoke anger" and "inflame passions"?

"Evoke anger" specifically refers to stirring up feelings of anger. "Inflame passions" is broader and suggests stirring up strong emotions in general, which may or may not include anger.