provoke by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provoke by" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it lacks a direct object or context that clarifies what is being provoked. Example: "He was provoked by her constant criticism."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Some young men seem to enjoy the horror they can provoke by calling him a hero, residents and social workers said.

The New York Times

Dr. Randall was followed by Dr. Kane, a self-proclaimed optimist who did try to provoke by claiming that physics was on the verge of seeing "the bottom of the iceberg".

The New York Times - Science

speaker this week, ruthlessly bled dry of every last ounce of its capacity to provoke by sheer overuse, I found it neither powerful nor effective, but tedious and vaguely uncomfortable.

The Guardian - Opinion

The problem is that Turkey – "neuralgic" on the subject (the word used privately by the British Foreign Office to describe its attitude) – has threatened reprisals and is too important geopolitically to provoke by affirming the genocide, lest it carry out threats to close its airbases to Nato and its borders to refugees.

The Guardian - Books

9 Escalate and provoke by: assassinating Palestinians, making sure to refer to child causalities as unfortunate bystanders, firing an incessant barrage of artillery shells capriciously in a self-declared buffer zone and detaining other Palestinians belonging to a group that has stuck to a ceasefire for over 12 months.

The Guardian - Opinion

This single set is sufficient to demonstrate the failure event which we can provoke by introducing a second (erroneous) mode of particles.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

It was provoked by a crisis.

The Guardian

Sometimes it provokes by accident.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The conversation was provoked by an anniversary.

The New York Times

(They had been provoked by budget cuts).

The New Yorker

And the problems were provoked by himself.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical accuracy, replace "provoke by" with alternatives like "caused by", "instigated by", or "triggered by", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Common error

Avoid using "provoke by" without a clear subject indicating what is being provoked. Ensure the sentence specifies what entity is experiencing the provocation. For example, instead of saying "The reaction was provoke by...", specify the entity reacting, such as, "The crowd's anger was provoked by the speaker's words."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provoke by" functions incorrectly as it lacks a direct object, failing to adhere to standard grammatical structure. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's better to use alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "provoke by" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, it lacks a direct object, making it unclear what is being provoked. While it appears in some sources, including news and scientific contexts, it's advisable to use more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "caused by", "instigated by", or "triggered by". Ensure clarity by specifying what is being provoked and use context-appropriate phrasing for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

caused by

Replaces "provoke" with "caused", a more direct and general term for something bringing about an effect.

triggered by

Replaces "provoke" with "triggered", implying a chain reaction or sudden release.

instigated by

Replaces "provoke" with "instigated", implying a deliberate initiation or goading.

prompted by

Replaces "provoke" with "prompted", which implies an encouragement to do something.

precipitated by

Replaces "provoke" with "precipitated", indicating a hastening or bringing about suddenly.

sparked by

Replaces "provoke" with "sparked", implying a sudden burst or initiation.

engendered by

Replaces "provoke" with "engendered", suggesting a more natural or internal generation of the effect.

generated by

Replaces "provoke" with "generated", conveying a sense of creation or production.

elicited by

Replaces "provoke" with "elicited", which suggests drawing out a response or reaction.

stimulated by

Replaces "provoke" with "stimulated", suggesting an encouragement or activation.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the word "provoke" in a sentence?

The verb "provoke" requires a direct object, indicating what is being provoked. A correct sentence structure would be: "The speaker's words provoked a strong reaction." Using the structure "provoke by" is grammatically incorrect.

What are some alternatives to "provoke by" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "caused by", "triggered by", "instigated by", or "elicited by". These alternatives provide clearer and more grammatically sound ways to express the relationship between cause and effect.

Is "provoked by" the same as "caused by"?

While both phrases indicate a cause-and-effect relationship, "caused by" is a more general term. "Provoked by" implies a deliberate action or instigation that leads to a reaction. For example, "The accident was caused by the rain", but "The riot was provoked by the police action".

How does the context influence the choice between "provoked by" and other alternatives?

The context dictates the most appropriate alternative. If an action or event incites a reaction, "provoked by" might be suitable, but "caused by" is more appropriate for general causation. If you want to indicate a direct and immediate response, consider "triggered by". If the response is drawn out or encouraged, "elicited by" is more accurate.