Provoke mimic pinching last of profit (9)

I think it could be either:

stimulate

stimtlate

'provoke' is the definition.
(stimulating is a kind of provoking)

'mimic pinching last of profit' is the wordplay.
'mimic' becomes 'simulate' (I've seen this before**).
'pinching' is an insertion indicator (taking inside).
'last of' suggests the final letters.
The final letter of 'profit' is 't'.
'simulate' enclosing 't' is 'STIMULATE'.

(Other definitions for stimulate that I've seen before include "Encourage" , "Excite the feelings of" , "Mutilates so as to make more active" , "Incite to action" , "Kindle?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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