invoke anger

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "invoke anger" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing actions or statements that provoke feelings of anger in others. For example: "His comments were enough to invoke anger among the audience." Alternative expressions include "stir up anger" and "provoke anger."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

We were both experts at pushing each others buttons to invoke anger or emotional hurt.

Huffington Post

While some have suggested that the EU's declaration on a unified Ireland may invoke anger in Whitehall, Byrne disagrees.

Vice

You don't want to invoke anger or fits of crying with either one of you.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Figures in the Scottish Labour leadership were said to be "furious" over Ms Brennan's decision to announce on Twitter that she was rejecting the £1,000 donation to her campaign to win Dundee East off the SNP and also invoked anger with members in her local party who claimed they were not consulted.

Independent

The problem with sophistic rhetoric is that it makes its emotional pitch in ways independent of the subject under discussion, perhaps even distracting from the subject at hand (e.g., by invoking anger at Al Qaeda, while considering the merits of invading Iraq).

SEP

Their presence invokes anger in those who see them as violent, crude, and in many cases a threat to America.

Huffington Post

For those who see themselves as the image of America, and who do not see others as an image of themselves, difference invokes anger.

Huffington Post

And so we must conclude that Humor is a healthy Art -- and so we must invoke its anger diminishing capabilities to help ease us off our rickety platforms.

Huffington Post

The premise that opens "Rationalizing Jihad" is "There is nothing that invokes the anger of God and His wrath like the unwarranted spilling of blood and wrecking of property".

The New Yorker

"There is nothing that invokes the anger of God and His wrath like the unwarranted spilling of blood and wrecking of property," he wrote.Jihad had to be authorised by a qualified imam or sheikh, he said, not the "heroes of the internet".

The Economist

In October, she gave a speech invoking the anger and frustration of the protesters at a breakfast for the Association for a Better New York, at the Marriott Marquis.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Select this phrase in formal or analytical writing to describe how rhetoric, art or political actions interact with public sentiment.

Common error

While often used interchangeably in casual speech, remember that "evoke" usually refers to bringing a feeling to mind or memory, whereas "invoke" carries a sense of calling upon an external force, authority or deep-seated power to manifest that emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "invoke anger" operates as a transitive verb phrase consisting of the verb "invoke" and the direct object "anger". In various contexts provided by Ludwig, it functions to describe the mechanism by which an external stimulus—such as rhetoric, art or political action—generates a specific emotional state. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical validity and shows it is often used with personal or institutional subjects.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "invoke anger" is a grammatically sound and sophisticated phrase widely used in high-level English discourse. According to Ludwig AI, it is particularly prevalent in News & Media and Scientific contexts to describe the provocation of strong emotional responses. While it shares semantic space with alternatives like ""provoke anger"" or ""evoke anger"", its specific nuance lies in the sense of calling upon a psychological force or authority. Writers should feel confident using it in formal settings to analyze emotional reactions or rhetorical effects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provoke anger

Implies a more direct and often intentional action to cause a reaction.

evoke anger

Suggests that the anger is a natural or subconscious response to a stimulus.

stir up anger

Uses a phrasal verb to suggest agitating or inciting existing feelings.

incite anger

Commonly used in legal or political contexts involving the encouragement of unrest.

arouse anger

Focuses on the awakening or stirring of an emotional state from dormancy.

trigger anger

Highlights a specific cause or event that sets off the emotional response.

elicit anger

Suggests a response drawn out by a particular set of circumstances or questions.

spark anger

Metaphorical usage implying a sudden or explosive beginning to the emotion.

kindle anger

Literary alternative suggesting a slow build-up or nurturing of the feeling.

inflame anger

Suggests making an existing feeling much more intense or violent.

FAQs

What is the difference between "evoke anger" and "invoke anger"?

While both describe the creation of emotion, "evoke anger" is often a passive result of a stimulus, whereas "invoke anger" can imply a more active or psychological summoning of that state.

How to use "invoke anger" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an effect on an audience, such as: "The politician's divisive rhetoric was calculated to "provoke anger" among the voters."

What is a synonym for "invoke anger"?

Common synonyms include "stir up anger", "incite anger" or "arouse anger".

Is "invoke anger" appropriate for academic writing?

Yes, it is a formal and sophisticated phrase that appears frequently in academic and journalistic sources like the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy or The New York Times.