Definitions and Examples of provoke, aggravate, irritate
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To deliberately make someone angry or annoyed.
Example
His rude comments were enough to provoke her into a heated argument.
To make a problem or situation worse; to irritate or annoy someone.
Example
His constant complaints only served to aggravate the situation.
To annoy or provoke someone to anger.
Example
The sound of the alarm clock always irritates him in the morning.
Key Differences: provoke vs aggravate vs irritate
- 1Provoke implies a deliberate attempt to make someone angry or annoyed.
- 2Aggravate suggests making a problem or situation worse.
- 3Irritate conveys a sense of annoyance or provocation.
Effective Usage of provoke, aggravate, irritate
- 1Conflict Resolution: Use appease to calm down a tense situation, and avoid using provoke, aggravate, or irritate.
- 2Expressing Displeasure: Use provoke, aggravate, or irritate to express annoyance or anger.
- 3Describing Behavior: Use these antonyms to describe how people react to different situations.
Remember this!
The antonyms of appease are provoke, aggravate, and irritate. These words convey the opposite meaning of appease and have distinct nuances. Use appease to calm down a tense situation, and avoid using provoke, aggravate, or irritate. Use these antonyms to express displeasure, describe behavior, and enrich your vocabulary.