provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌprä-və-ˈkā-shən 
1
: the act of provoking : incitement
2
: something that provokes, arouses, or stimulates
Examples of provocation in a Sentence
He can turn violent at the least provocation.
Her calmness in the face of repeated provocations impressed her friends.
With hardly any provocation, the crowd began to chant.
Recent Examples on the Web
His Paris diary, by contrast, is a jumble of clichés and misfired provocations.
—
Thomas Meaney, New Yorker, 2 July 2025
Her career encompasses blockbusters, rom-coms, arthouse fare, and works of provocation, with notable examples being Batman & Robin (1997), Les Misérables (1998), The House That Jack Built (2018), Red, White & Royal Blue (2023), and Oh, Canada (2024).
—Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 2 July 2025
The exhibition has been organized by theme, and looks at the designers’ embrace of provocation; menswear and tailoring; historical costume, and the female body.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
Our work for the festival has involved a certain level of provocation since the beginning.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
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Thomas Meaney, New Yorker, 2 July 2025
Her career encompasses blockbusters, rom-coms, arthouse fare, and works of provocation, with notable examples being Batman & Robin (1997), Les Misérables (1998), The House That Jack Built (2018), Red, White & Royal Blue (2023), and Oh, Canada (2024).
—Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 2 July 2025
The exhibition has been organized by theme, and looks at the designers’ embrace of provocation; menswear and tailoring; historical costume, and the female body.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
Our work for the festival has involved a certain level of provocation since the beginning.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Cite this Entry
“Provocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provocation. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌpräv-ə-ˈkā-shən
1
: the act of provoking
2
: something that provokes
Medical Definition
provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌpräv-ə-ˈkā-shən
: the act or process of provoking
a nonspecific irritant that brings about provocation of bronchial asthma
Legal Definition
provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌprä-və-ˈkā-shən
1
: the act of provoking
2
: something that provokes, arouses, or stimulates
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