What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stoking
Example
He was stoking the fire to keep the cabin warm. [stoking: verb]
Example
The politician was accused of stoking fear among the public. [stoking: gerund or present participle]
provoke
Example
His rude comments provoked her to tears. [provoke: verb]
Example
The new policy is likely to provoke opposition from the public. [provoke: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Provoke is more commonly used than stoking in everyday language. Provoke is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while stoking is less common and often used in specific situations such as fire maintenance or emotional encouragement.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stoking and provoke?
Both stoking and provoke can be used in formal and informal contexts, but provoke may be perceived as more formal due to its versatility and frequent use in academic or professional settings.
