The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word INCITES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
I
N
C
I
T
E
S
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Provokes" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case provokes = incites.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does INCITES mean?
INCITES verb- To stir up or excite; to rouse or goad into action.