What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
precipitating
Example
The heavy rain was the precipitating factor in the flooding of the river. [precipitating: adjective]
Example
The argument between the two coworkers precipitated a heated debate among the team. [precipitated: verb]
provoking
Example
The provocative comments made by the politician caused outrage among the public. [provocative: adjective]
Example
She knew that bringing up the topic of politics would provoke her father's anger. [provoke: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Provoking is more commonly used than precipitating in everyday language, especially in informal contexts. Precipitating is more commonly used in scientific or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between precipitating and provoking?
Both precipitating and provoking can be used in formal and informal contexts, but precipitating is more commonly used in technical or academic writing, while provoking is more versatile and can be used in various contexts and registers.
