1. (

• aggravation ,
• irritation ,
• provocation

) unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment ;

2. (

• incitement ,
• incitation ,
• provocation

) something that incites or provokes; a means of arousing or stirring to action ;

3. (

• provocation ,
• incitement ,

) needed encouragement; "the result was a provocation of vigorous investigation" ;