The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Provoking \Pro*vok"ing\, a. Having the power or quality of exciting resentment; tending to awaken passion or vexation; as, provoking words or treatment. -- Pro*vok"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
provokingly adv 1: in a provocative manner; "`Try it,' he said provocatively" [syn: provocatively, provokingly]