This is the 2713th most frequent Portuguese word.
provocar
"Provocar" means "to provoke, cause, incite, or stir up."
In this example, 'provocar' means to incite or trigger a reaction, specifically sparking a debate or argument among people.
As suas palavras provocaram uma discussão acalorada.
Your words provoked a heated discussion.
In this sentence, 'provocar' is used to indicate causing or bringing about an effect, specifically natural phenomena leading to floods.
A chuva provocou enchentes em várias regiões.
The rain caused floods in several regions.
Here, 'provocar' is utilized to describe playful teasing or bothering in an interpersonal setting.