What is the word for provoking some one in a good way to do something good? My research shows provoke is means to induce anger in a person to do something. I have found "inspired" but it doesnt give the same provocative :) effect.
Cheers
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Inspire and encourage are clearly positive, but not as strong.
Provoke is generally negative as you say, though if used of a good thing then it could work well, precisely because it would be a use that is unusual—whether it's so unusual to jar or just unusual enough to stand out well can't be judged out of context, and there would likely be some disagreement if we did see the full sentence.
Spur is perhaps a good choice. Edit: some people are objecting to spur, they've a fair point, but I hope none of them ever ride horses ;)
Incite, foster, hearten, embolden, induce, stimulate, persuade, coax, instigate, and urge are all words that overlap enough that they might suit your purpose but not so much that they necessarily would.
Edit: Stir works in some cases too, and while it's a bit old-fashioned in this sense, I personally like it.
Jon Hanna
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3+1 I agree with provoke being used in a way that isn't necessarily negative. For instance by itself provoke is associated to be negative, but when I've heard the phrase "thought provoking" it doesn't have the same negativity, for me anyways. – shadowjfaith Feb 07 '14 at 20:21
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‘Take this ring, Master,’ he said, ‘for your labours will be heavy; but it will support you in the weariness that you have taken upon yourself. For this is the Ring of Fire, and with it you may rekindle hearts* in a world that grows chill. But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, and I will dwell by the grey shores until the last ship sails. I will await you.’* – tchrist Feb 07 '14 at 21:09
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1Is spur not somewhat negative as well? As in it takes someone poking you with a wheel of sharp spikes to get you to do whatever it is they want you to do? ('prod' would be similar too) – frozenkoi Feb 07 '14 at 21:38
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@frozenkoi, in theory at least, spurs deliver mild but persuasive encouragement. – Jon Hanna Feb 08 '14 at 02:17
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@choster, just saw your suggestion of stir after adding it to my answer. Personally I am biased towards it because "I do summon, stir, and call you up" is part of my liturgy, which makes it hard to tell if I'm being fair in judging it good enough to compensate for a rather old-fashioned flavour, but I definitely like it for some reason or other. – Jon Hanna Feb 08 '14 at 02:22
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1I find your answer satisfying and on the target but i kind of agree with frozenkoi. Spur is what you do to a horse and it is actually forcefull imo. So spurring a person foesnt sound really polite but in absence of a better word i think its the best option. I have also come across the word "Fillip". What do you guys think about that? – Ömer Karışman Feb 08 '14 at 10:05
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1On its own, I think of stir in a more negative sense (stir up trouble, for example). That said, any of these (including provoke, really) could be used positively in the right context. – J.R. Feb 08 '14 at 11:44
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@drumfire entice is fully positive, though it may be too much so; if they either offered a reward or else made the action they are encouraged to do seem particularly pleasant in itself, then you would have the mot juste, but otherwise it wouldn't work. – Jon Hanna Feb 08 '14 at 17:19
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The question asked for positive words of encouragement. Spur is hardly positive in most contexts. Spurs look cool, but no one wants to be goaded in the ribs with spurs. – Ellie Kesselman Feb 08 '14 at 18:14
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@Feral - Most human spurring is more figurative than that. Many things can spur us on, besides those cool, pointy wheels – like desires for vengeance, wealth, success, or love. NOAD mentions three ways to be spurred: urge (a horse) forward by digging one's spurs into its sides; give an incentive or encouragement to (someone); cause or promote the development of; stimulate. I'd say two out of those three could be used in positive context: Knowing she'd be allowed to get her driver's license if she made the honor roll, Beth was spurred on to study harder. That sounds better than provoked. – J.R. Feb 09 '14 at 00:13
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"arouse" comes to mind also. Though, be careful when using, it can be too positive sometimes.
ermanen
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One case in point, the NIV 2011 translation of the Bible swapped out provoked for aroused, although each instance was specifically in reference to anger. – Brad Koch Feb 07 '14 at 22:25
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Words that come to mind when thinking of "provoking" but with a positive connotation would be:
motivating
prompting
driving
encouraging
incentivizing
Digital Chris
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How about challenge? To challenge someone to to something. It seems to me it fits the bill for positive provocation.
user65096
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Galvanize sounds like the word you are looking for. Galvanize 1. (verb) to shock or excite (someone), typically into taking action.
Exemplar
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1Alternately in the "terms inspired by science" category, I'd suggest catalyze as a bit more mainstream. – HostileFork says dont trust SE Feb 09 '14 at 01:41
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I actually like "provoke" in that context, but if you really need something different, you might try spur
EDIT, to show that spur is frequently used in a positive sense.
A google search for spur to success brings up headlines like these:
- Did the JFK Assassination Spur the Success of the Beatles?
- Steelers notebook: Johnson helps spur success in red zone
- Accelerating Startup Success to Spur Economic Growth
- Can the Lumia 2520 Spur Nokia and Microsoft to Success?
- Coaches Spur Advisers To Hit Bigger, Better Success
TecBrat
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The question asked for positive words of encouragement. Spur is hardly positive in most contexts. Spurs look cool, but no one wants a goad in the ribs with spurs. – Ellie Kesselman Feb 08 '14 at 18:12
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They are somewhat masculine examples e.g. Pittsburgh Steelers, sports team coaches, tech start-up's (which shouldn't be gender-specific, but generally are), but I'm not complaining. I am a woman, and wouldn't find spur to be a word of positive encouragement. Most prose is not gender-specific though, so spur is probably just fine in a general sense. It is much better than "stimulate", "lure" or "arouse"! – Ellie Kesselman Feb 09 '14 at 19:33
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I've seen the word exhort before. I am not sure what its connotations are. In the linked webpage it says it has a positive connotation.
Brian Moths
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Provoke can have negative connotations, but it denotes: "stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone."
So I would not rule out your original inclination, if based on the context you make clear that it is positive reactions or emotions you are attempting to arouse.
Aaron Hall
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Instead of provoke, which may have negative connotations, such as goading or irritating, consider pique.
Attending the lecture series piqued my interest in further study.
That is a positive usage of pique, similar to provoke in its more positive form of provocative. Similarly, there is a negative form of pique, "a fit of pique" e.g. "Gaddafi left enriched uranium on the runway in 'fit of pique' after he felt snubbed during U.S. visit". As long as you use pique as a word, not part of a phrase, there will be no confusion.
Ellie Kesselman
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It's a little uncommon, but you could also use impel. I believe this has a neutral connotation, so it might not be what you want.
Mr. Kevin
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I think you're looking for the word "pay"...i.e. Could you do this for me, I'll pay you this much. Or give you this in exchange.
Otherwise it seems like you're asking someone to do something they don't want to do, for no reason? Unless you mean "blackmail", "slavery", "brainwash" ??
If you're strong enough in some area, you can use "threaten" (induce fear of reprisal). For instance if you're a nation-state, weapons, imprisonment, etc.
You can take away things someone might have, if you can control that. Privacy, freedom, food, water, shelter, entertainment.
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Who are you? It makes me feel happy to read this. It is ethical and fair and honest and true and just so good in every way. – Ellie Kesselman Feb 08 '14 at 18:08
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ermanen's answer above provoked me to laughter. The word appears to me to be negative or positive only according to context.
But to the point: I should nudge you in the right direction. ;)
Jiminy Cricket.
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There was a popular acronym, AIDMA used among ad men when I was still in the frontline of business, which represents for Attention→Interest→Demand→Motivate→Action.
In other words, AIDMA illustrates the process of how the advertisement works, and how the massage lets people take their actions (good for the advertiser).
Although I’m not sure of if this word is still in use in advertising world, I would like to suggest “Motivate” as the word you’re looking for. "Encourage" (to do sth) could be another alternative.
Yoichi Oishi
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"evoke" and "elicit" ...or perhaps even "enthuse"
alw2017
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1Welcome to EL&U. A good answer provides an explanation as to why, including appropriate links or references, so that the questioner as well as future visitors can understand the reasoning. For additional guidance on how to use this site, please see the Help Center. – choster Feb 08 '14 at 05:25
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Tiger mother (BrEng) or tiger moms (AmEng) are said to push and drive their children towards academic excellence.
In terms of academic achievement, British Chinese children are the most successful ethnic group in this country, and behind each success story you will usually find a formidable Tiger Mother. Play by her rule book, and you get hours of homework and music practice, strict discipline, and not too much time for play. But you are also more likely to get A grades.
'A Michigan State University scholar has refuted tiger mother philosophy that parents should drive their children to succeed even at the expense of the kids' happiness.'
Mari-Lou A
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engagingsomeone? – oɔɯǝɹ Feb 07 '14 at 21:55