provocation

• At least this is what I felt in my own case; and therefore to come to me with methods of logic had in it the nature of a provocation, and, though I do not think I ever showed it, made me somewhat indifferent how I met them, and perhaps led me, as a means of relieving my impatience, to be mysterious or irrelevant, or to give in because I could not meet them to my satisfaction. —  Apologia Pro Vita Sua
• The first officer of rank who gave her a kind answer was a man who never gave an unkind reply without great provocation--Dr. R. H. Coolidge, Medical Inspector. —  Woman's Work in the Civil War A Record of Heroism, Patriotism, and Patience
• The words "liar and ruffian" haunted Edward's mind reproachfully; but then the provocation--"rebel!" —  Handy Andy, Volume One A Tale of Irish Life, in Two Volumes
• But he is wrong when he asserts that we gave the Cholulans the above-mentioned chastisement without any provocation, and merely for pastime. —  Mexico and its Religion With Incidents of Travel in That Country During Parts of the Years 1851-52-53-54, and Historical Notices of Events Connected With Places Visited
• I am sure my Frenchman must have had some provocation, and is really the victim You--that is we--know nothing about that, my dear," said Argyll I cannot be mistaken; you would be the first at any other time to admit that I could tell whether a man was good or evil on a very brief acquaintance. —  Doom Castle

Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the Same Context