spite vs provoke

spite is a noun but provoke is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
spite	Yes	No	Yes	No
provoke	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, provoke is a hypernym of spite; that is, provoke is a word with a broader meaning than spite:

Other hypernyms of spite include arouse, elicit, enkindle, evoke, fire, kindle, raise.

spite (noun)	provoke (noun)
malevolence by virtue of being malicious or spiteful or nasty
feeling a need to see others suffer

spite (verb)	provoke (verb)
hurt the feelings of	provide the needed stimulus for
	evoke or provoke to appear or occur
	call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
	annoy continually or chronically