Cool MateProvoke vs Stir things up
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Provoke
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Stir things up
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Provoke
| Provoke | Stir things up | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/prəˈvəʊk/","/prəˈvəʊks/","/prəˈvəʊkt/","/prəˈvəʊkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/prəˈvəʊk/","/prəˈvəʊks/","/prəˈvəʊkt/","/prəˈvəʊkɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //stɜː θɪŋz ʌp//🇺🇸 //stɜr θɪŋz ʌp// |
| Meaning | to make someone feel a strong emotion, often anger | To cause trouble or create a lot of excitement. |
| Example | The speaker's comments were intended to provoke a strong reaction from the audience. | She always knows how to stir things up at the party. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | deliberately, inevitably, immediately, try to, be likely to, be designed to, into, to, easily provoked, deliberately, inevitably, immediately, try to, be likely to, be designed to, into, to, easily provoked | stir up trouble, stir up excitement, stir up emotions, stir up controversy, stir things up |
| Antonyms | calm, appease, soothe | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Provoke' is sometimes confused with 'evoke', which means to bring to mind., Learners might forget to use an object, saying just 'provoke' instead of 'provoke someone'., Some may incorrectly use 'provoked to' without an appropriate emotion or reaction. | Confusing with 'stir' meaning to mix (e.g., 'stir the soup')., Using it in overly serious contexts., Mixing with other phrases like 'stir the pot' which have similar meanings. |
| Usage notes | Use 'provoke' to describe actions that cause strong emotional reactions. It's more neutral than aggressive, so avoid it in overly formal contexts. | Use 'stir things up' in casual conversation when someone creates drama or excitement, but avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Provoke vs Stir things up
What's the difference between Provoke and Stir things up?
Provoke: to make someone feel a strong emotion, often anger Stir things up: To cause trouble or create a lot of excitement.
Which is more formal: Provoke and Stir things up?
Provoke is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Provoke: The speaker's comments were intended to provoke a strong reaction from the audience. Stir things up: She always knows how to stir things up at the party.
Can I use Provoke and Stir things up interchangeably?
Not always. Provoke and Stir things up are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.