Which word means to provoke, annoy, or stir up emotions in someone?

The word that best encapsulates the act of provoking, annoying, or stirring up emotions in someone is "agitate." This term specifically implies creating a state of excitement or disturbance, often leading to an emotional response. While "instigate," "antagonize," and "enrage" can also suggest provoking emotions, they carry slightly different connotations or contexts.

"Instigate" implies initiating something negative or inciting action, often related to conflict. "Antagonize" suggests deliberately causing someone to feel hostile or angry, which is close but doesn't fully capture the broader sense of stirring feelings without a focus on hostility. "Enrage" specifically points to inciting strong anger or fury in someone, which is a more intense emotion than simply agitating someone. Therefore, "agitate" accurately reflects the idea of stirring emotions in a more general and less aggressive manner.