provoke
     v 1: call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); "arouse
          pity"; "raise a smile"; "evoke sympathy" [syn: {arouse},
           {elicit}, {enkindle}, {kindle}, {evoke}, {fire}, {raise}]
     2: call forth; "Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the
        couple" [syn: {evoke}, {call forth}, {kick up}]
     3: provide the needed stimulus for [syn: {stimulate}]
     4: annoy continually or chronically; "He is known to harry his
        staff when he is overworked"; "This man harasses his
        female co-workers" [syn: {harass}, {hassle}, {harry}, {chivy},
         {chivvy}, {chevy}, {chevvy}, {beset}, {plague}, {molest}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0