n. 25B6; noun
he remained calm despite severe provocation : GOADING, prodding, egging on, incitement, pressure; ANNOYANCE, irritation, nettling; harassment, plaguing, molestation; teasing, taunting, torment; affront, insults; informal hassle, aggravation.
without provocation, Jones punched Mr Cartwright : JUSTIFICATION, excuse, pretext, occasion, call, motivation, motive, cause, grounds, reason, need.