will be provoked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "will be provoked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something will cause a reaction or response, often in a negative or challenging context. Example: "If the situation escalates, tensions will be provoked among the parties involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Their expectation is that Mr. Hussein will be provoked into blocking an inspection.

The New York Times

But if the psychiatrist is right, I do hope readers will be provoked to do more for our warming planet.

The New York Times

Janson devotees will be provoked by an exhibition that opened at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth this week and runs through Sept. 13.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Franks runs the risk, of course, that Mr. Corzine will be provoked into turning his television howitzers against his opponent sooner rather than later in the campaign.

The New York Times

Al Qaeda, it's said, which loathes both godless Saddam and the Shiite opposition, will be provoked by an attack on Iraq into revenge on the soft cities of the West.

The New Yorker

Still, some public-interest advocates are hopeful that voters will be provoked into anger over time, if only because media companies arrogant enough to pull the plug on Regis Philbin may, like Microsoft before them, eventually overplay their hand.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Now her parents can hardly shop, she said, because prices in Albanian shops are high and "they'll be provoked and maybe refused".

The New York Times

"I hope they'll be provoked, that they'll be made to think about the historical circumstances that have led us to the situation in the Middle East". Cooke said that Churchill, 70, had tackled a huge subject in "an incredibly distilled and economical way".

The Guardian

"We will not be provoked".

The Guardian

"Today the settlers want to provoke us, but we will not be provoked.

The New York Times

Teen-agers will only be provoked by your sad attempts at relevance.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "will be provoked", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is doing the provoking and the likely outcome of the provocation. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "will be provoked" without specifying the agent of provocation. This can create vagueness and weaken the sentence. Always clarify who or what is doing the provoking for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will be provoked" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject will experience an action initiated by someone or something else. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable. Example: 'Mr. Hussein will be provoked into blocking an inspection'.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

19%

Science

19%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "will be provoked" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that someone or something is likely to cause a reaction. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase is usable in various contexts. Its usage spans from news reporting to scientific discussions, maintaining a neutral register. While the phrase is not overly common, it effectively communicates the idea of an anticipated reaction or response, and can be found in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the agent of provocation to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "will be incited" or "will be triggered" can be used depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will be incited

Replaces "provoked" with "incited", emphasizing the act of urging or stirring up a negative response.

will be triggered

Substitutes "provoked" with "triggered", implying a stimulus-response reaction.

will be goaded

Replaces "provoked" with "goaded", highlighting persistent urging or irritating someone into action.

will be instigated

Substitutes "provoked" with "instigated", focusing on initiating or stirring up an action or event, often negative.

will be stirred up

Replaces "provoked" with the phrasal verb "stirred up", suggesting the act of causing trouble or excitement.

will be inflamed

Replaces "provoked" with "inflamed", emphasizing the intensification of feelings or a situation.

will be agitated

Substitutes "provoked" with "agitated", implying a state of anxiety or nervous excitement.

will be exasperated

Replaces "provoked" with "exasperated", highlighting a feeling of intense irritation or annoyance.

will be antagonized

Substitutes "provoked" with "antagonized", indicating the act of causing someone to become hostile.

will be roused

Replaces "provoked" with "roused", suggesting the act of awakening or stirring up emotions or actions.

FAQs

How can I use "will be provoked" in a sentence?

You can use "will be provoked" to describe a situation where someone or something is likely to cause a reaction, often a negative one. For instance, "Hussein will be provoked into blocking an inspection" or "Voters will be provoked into anger over time".

What's a good alternative to "will be provoked"?

Alternatives include "will be incited", "will be triggered", or "will be goaded", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean for something to "will be provoked"?

It means that a specific action or situation is highly likely to cause a strong reaction or response, often negative or undesirable. It suggests a predictable cause-and-effect relationship.

Is it better to use the active or passive voice when talking about provoking someone?

Whether to use active or passive voice depends on the context. "The settlers want to provoke us" (active) emphasizes the provoker, while "We will not be provoked" (passive) emphasizes the recipient of the provocation.