1. (

• arouse ,
• elicit ,
• enkindle ,
• kindle ,
• evoke ,
• fire ,
• raise ,
• provoke

) call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); "arouse pity"; "raise a smile"; "evoke sympathy" ;

2. (

• provoke ,
• evoke ,
• call_forth ,
• kick_up

) evoke or provoke to appear or occur; "Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple" ;

3. (

• provoke ,
• stimulate

) provide the needed stimulus for ;

4. (

• harass ,
• hassle ,
• harry ,
• chivy ,
• chivvy ,
• chevy ,
• chevvy ,
• beset ,
• plague ,
• molest ,
• provoke ,

) annoy continually or chronically; "He is known to harry his staff when he is overworked"; "This man harasses his female co-workers" ;