provoke surprise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provoke surprise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an action or event that causes someone to feel surprised or astonished. Example: "The magician's final trick was designed to provoke surprise among the audience, leaving them in awe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

God bless the straightforward writer, and God bless those with the ability to amuse, provoke, surprise, shock, appall.

The New York Times - Books

Perched on the roof of the South Bank Center, Susan is a temporary exhibit designed to provoke surprise but also wry reflection on the expanding population of foxes that live among the seven million ordinary Londoners.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

David Cameron provoked surprise today when he claimed that North Korea now possessed the capability to launch a nuclear strike against Britain.

Independent

Muammar Qaddafi's march forward following his avowed acceptance of a United Nations-mandated ceasefire provoked surprise in much of the civilized world.

The New Yorker

Lord Steel's comments, in which he effectively qualifies the gains brought by his legislation, provoked surprise and frustration from women's health campaigners.

The Guardian

Mr. Snow also provoked surprise in the financial markets by asserting, in the same interview, that he expected interest rates to rise.

The New York Times

New Iran Enrichment Claim Makes Inspectors Uneasy A new nuclear enrichment claim by Iran provoked surprise and concern among international nuclear inspectors who are planning to confront Tehran.

The New York Times

By Andrew Solomon March 22, 2011 Muammar Qaddafi's march forward following his avowed acceptance of a United Nations-mandated ceasefire provoked surprise in much of the civilized world.

The New Yorker

His decision to feature "God" as a truculent 11-year-old (played by British schoolboy Isaac Andrews) with close cropped hair and dirty fingernails, giving advice to Moses on the mountain top, provoked surprise.

Independent

Now an England international, courtesy of a 10-minute cameo against Hungary last month, and a regular team-mate of players such as Cesc Fábregas at club level, his expected inclusion at Sunderland tomorrow afternoon no longer provokes surprise.

The Guardian - Sport

The qualifying match itself provoked surprise in the computer chess community, with doubts about how Junior's early 5-0 lead, which it sustained until after the 14th game completely eroded during the next 10 games, thereby causing a tied match and a play-off that was won by Fritz.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "provoke surprise" when you want to emphasize that something deliberately or unexpectedly caused a feeling of astonishment or wonder.

Common error

Avoid using "provoke surprise" when the outcome is already expected. Save it for genuinely unexpected or novel situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provoke surprise" functions as a verb phrase, where "provoke" is a transitive verb indicating the act of causing or eliciting, and "surprise" is a noun representing the feeling or state that is being provoked. As Ludwig AI explains, it's grammatical and can be used in writing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "provoke surprise" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe something that causes a feeling of astonishment or unexpectedness. While Ludwig AI indicates its usability, the analysis shows it's relatively rare, primarily appearing in News & Media contexts. When writing, consider using it to emphasize a cause-and-effect relationship. It is advisable to avoid this phrase if the outcome is expected. If you want to express the same concept, consider alternatives such as "elicit astonishment" or "cause amazement" depending on your audience and the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elicit astonishment

Replaces "provoke" with "elicit" and "surprise" with "astonishment", maintaining a formal tone.

generate astonishment

Substitutes "provoke" with "generate" and "surprise" with "astonishment", focusing on the creation of wonder.

arouse astonishment

Uses the verb "arouse" to convey an awakening of astonishment.

cause amazement

Uses more common words, "cause" instead of "provoke" and "amazement" instead of "surprise".

spark wonder

Employs more figurative language, suggesting an ignition of wonder.

stir amazement

Uses the verb "stir" to suggest the awakening of amazement.

create bewilderment

Shifts the focus to a specific type of surprise that is bewilderment.

foster surprise

Replaces "provoke" with "foster", suggesting a cultivation of surprise.

induce shock

Alters the emotional response to a stronger, more negative surprise.

give rise to surprise

Rephrases the sentence structure and verb, focusing on origination of surprise.

FAQs

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

You can use "provoke surprise" to describe actions or events that cause a feeling of astonishment. For example, "The magician's trick was intended to "provoke surprise" among the audience".

What are some alternatives to "provoke surprise"?

Some alternatives include "elicit astonishment", "cause amazement", or "spark wonder". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is "provoke surprise" formal or informal?

"Provoke surprise" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in various contexts, though it might sound slightly more formal than simpler alternatives like "cause surprise".

What's the difference between "provoke surprise" and "cause surprise"?

While similar, "provoke surprise" suggests a more deliberate or unexpected instigation of the feeling, whereas "cause surprise" is a more general and neutral way of saying something resulted in surprise.