provoke passion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provoke passion" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to incite or stir up strong emotions or feelings. You can use it in any situation where something is causing strong feelings in someone. Example: The passionate speech by the politician provoked passion in the audience, leading to a standing ovation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Ideas still provoke passion, technology is already getting in there.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But the main topic was certainly one that provokes passion across much of the globe: soccer.

The New York Times

Mr. Perry, a New York University graduate whose second feature, "The Color Wheel," provoked passion and puzzlement at several festivals, has a natural eye, an offbeat sense of rhythm and no great interest in conventional storytelling.

The New York Times

There's a lesson to be learned here.' I've very much engaged in seeing what the fan response to the show is, trying to discover what provokes passion among our audience and what provokes 'Meh.'".

Huffington Post

With a global climate treaty under negotiation and legislation pending in the United States, the climate panel has found itself in the political cross hairs, its judgments provoking passions normally reserved for issues like abortion and guns.

The New York Times - Science

The case provoked passions across the nation, with some condemning Mr. Goetz as a vigilante, and others calling his action a galvanizing event for a city that had been too willing to accept a relentless rise in crime.

The New York Times

But despite all the new, the Nexus 7 doesn't really dramatically change the tablet space; it slots in more or less where the original version did, as a tablet that's good for the price but unlikely to provoke any passion.

TechCrunch

SMALL objects can provoke large passions.

The Economist

Restoration normally provokes strong passion and encourages dogmatic positions.

The Economist

I never met a person who provokes such passion in Washington, London, Beirut or Baghdad.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is only the most egregious example of the way in which gas has provoked more passion than sense in South America.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "provoke passion" when you want to emphasize the act of something causing strong feelings to arise, especially in a way that leads to a visible reaction or change in behavior.

Common error

Avoid using "provoke passion" in situations where a milder term like "inspire interest" or "generate enthusiasm" would be more appropriate. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound overly dramatic or sensational.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provoke passion" functions as a verb-noun construction where "provoke" acts as a transitive verb indicating the action of causing or stimulating, and "passion" is the noun representing the strong emotion or enthusiasm being stirred. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase means to incite or stir up strong emotions or feelings.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "provoke passion" is a grammatically correct verb-noun construction that describes the act of causing or stimulating strong emotions. As Ludwig AI indicated, it means to incite or stir up strong feelings. While relatively rare in usage, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. Alternatives include "incite passion", "evoke passion", and "arouse passion". Use it when you want to emphasize the elicitation of strong feelings, but avoid overuse in neutral contexts to prevent sounding overly dramatic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incite passion

Focuses on stirring up strong feelings, potentially leading to action.

evoke passion

Emphasizes bringing forth feelings that already exist within someone.

arouse passion

Highlights the act of awakening dormant or latent feelings.

stir up passion

Suggests agitating or disturbing emotions, often creating a strong reaction.

ignite passion

Implies setting off a burst of intense emotion, like a flame.

generate enthusiasm

Focuses on creating a positive and energetic feeling.

foster zeal

Indicates nurturing or encouraging fervent dedication.

inspire fervor

Emphasizes motivating intense and passionate emotion.

encourage ardor

Suggests promoting or stimulating warm feelings or intense enthusiasm.

kindle emotion

Implies gently igniting or starting a feeling.

FAQs

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

You can use "provoke passion" to describe something that causes strong emotions or enthusiasm. For instance, "The speaker's words provoked passion in the audience".

What are some alternatives to "provoke passion"?

Alternatives include "incite passion", "evoke passion", or "arouse passion", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "provoke passion" or "inspire passion"?

"Provoke passion" suggests a more active or forceful stimulation of emotion, while "inspire passion" implies a more gentle or motivational influence. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "provoke passion" and "provoke anger"?

"Provoke passion" refers to stirring up strong feelings or enthusiasm, whereas "provoke anger" specifically means to incite anger or resentment.