prov ‧ o ‧ ca ‧ tion /ˌprɒvəˈkeɪʃ ə n $ ˌprɑː-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
an action or event that makes someone angry or upset, or is intended to do this ⇨ provoke
without provocation
She claims that Graham attacked her without any provocation.
He was accused of deliberate provocation.
Julie has a tendency to burst into tears at the slightest provocation.