Cause
Cause noun - Someone or something responsible for a result.
Provocation is a synonym for cause in reason topic. In some cases you can use "Provocation" instead a noun "Cause".
Provocation
Provocation noun - Something that arouses action or activity.
Usage example: ready to retaliate at the slightest provocation
Cause is a synonym for provocation in justification topic. Sometimes you can use "Cause" instead a noun "Provocation", if it concerns topics such as incitement.
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- consideration and cause
- consideration and provocation
- purpose and cause
- purpose and provocation
- motive and cause
- motive and provocation
- motivation and cause
- motivation and provocation
- stimulus and cause
- stimulus and provocation
- call and cause
- call and provocation
- basis and cause
- basis and provocation
How words are described
Both words in one sentence
- Second in line to the throne, Margaret, tries to assassinate her own sister, Elizabeth, and despite failing that, seizes the crown, and orders war with the nation of Belgaria, without cause or provocation, all because she was bored.
Source: War for Fun and Profit -
Light and Dark: The Awakening of the Mage Knight: The shadows attack humans and cause destruction without reason or provocation.
Source: Always Chaotic Evil - In another instance, he predicts Action Man's exact date and cause of death, though to be fair the guy did attack him without provocation and put a bullet in his shoulder before the mix-up was resolved.
Cite this Source
Provocation and Cause. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cause/provocation
Cause & Provocation. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cause/provocation>.
Provocation or Cause. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cause/provocation.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cause" and "provocation" have occurred on timeline