provoke emotions

USAGE SUMMARY

"provoke emotions" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
Example: The artist's painting was able to provoke a wide range of emotions in its viewers, from joy and awe to sadness and contemplation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

They provoke emotions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Their aim: to produce perfectly mindblowing party music and provoke emotions never felt before.

The Guardian - Music

Anything that's going to provoke emotions or thoughts – it's got to be pretty potent, like it or not.

The Guardian

"Gift-giving should provoke emotions -- the more experience you can evoke with a gift, the better the gift will be.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Eat Pray Love" is unlikely to change anybody's life or even to provoke emotions anywhere near as intense as those experienced, early and late, by its intrepid heroine.

The New York Times

"People are coming around to the fact that they like weird stuff, objects that provoke emotions, even if that means fear or disgust".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

This element was primarily designed to offer participants assistance in sorting out emotions provoked by the activities involved in the other parts of the program.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Instead of PILs contributing to providing a sense of security or reassurance for patients, they provoked negative emotions which – among other reactions – led participants to discontinuing their medication or altering the dosage without prior consultation of their GPs.

BMC Family Practice

I just want to provoke emotion".

The New York Times - Arts

Judge Richard J. Leon issued the injunction sought by the tobacco companies and gave as a reason the illegitimacy of images as conveyers of information: "[T]he government's emphasis on the images' ability to provoke emotion strongly suggests that the government's actual purpose is not to inform, but rather to advocate a change in consumer behavior".

The New York Times

Welles's uninhibited way with the soundtrack (due to his background in radio) enabled him to free up images — since he was able to frame the story with sound alone, he put onscreen a sort of distinct and diverse "image track," using the camera to provoke emotion with a primal aesthetic ecstasy akin to that of music.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "provoke emotions", consider the intensity and type of emotion you intend to convey. Choose specific verbs or adjectives to clarify the nature of the emotions being provoked, such as "provoke strong emotions" or "provoke negative emotions".

Common error

Avoid using "provoke emotions" without specifying the context or type of emotion. Without further clarification, the phrase can be vague and leave the reader unsure of the intended impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provoke emotions" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "provoke" is the transitive verb and "emotions" is the direct object. This indicates an action that causes or elicits feelings, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

24%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "provoke emotions" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe the act of causing or eliciting feelings. Ludwig AI validates this, offering numerous examples from reputable sources across diverse contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Wiki. While versatile, it's advisable to specify the type or intensity of emotions being provoked for clarity. Related alternatives include "elicit emotions" and "stir up emotions". As a best practice, ensure your writing provides context when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elicit emotions

Focuses on drawing out emotions that are already present, rather than necessarily creating them.

stir up emotions

Implies a more active and potentially disruptive arousal of feelings.

arouse feelings

A more general term for bringing feelings into being.

evoke sentiments

Suggests a more gentle and subtle calling forth of feelings, often related to nostalgia or shared values.

ignite passions

Emphasizes the intensity and fervor of the emotions produced.

trigger feelings

Highlights the potential for a sudden or unexpected emotional response.

instigate emotional reactions

Emphasizes the act of initiating an emotional response.

generate emotional responses

Focuses on producing emotions as a result or outcome.

foster emotionality

Indicates the encouragement and development of emotional expression.

stimulate emotional responses

Highlights the act of encouraging an emotional response through external means.

FAQs

How can I use "provoke emotions" in a sentence?

You can use "provoke emotions" to describe actions or stimuli that cause feelings. For example, "The artist's work aimed to provoke emotions of both joy and sorrow."

What's a good alternative to "provoke emotions"?

Depending on the context, you could use "elicit emotions", "stir up emotions", or "arouse feelings".

Is it better to say "provoke emotion" or "provoke emotions"?

"Provoke emotions" is generally more common and grammatically sound when referring to a range of feelings. "Provoke emotion" might be used to emphasize a singular, specific feeling, but it is less frequent.

How does "provoke emotions" differ from "trigger emotions"?

"Provoke emotions" implies a more intentional or direct causation of feelings, while "trigger emotions" suggests a more reactive or unconscious response to a stimulus.