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
Before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, many Western nations turned a blind eye to Moscow provocations.
—
Tamar Jacoby, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
All of that and more is a strong and effective response to the provocations from North Korea.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
This harem within echoes the work of scholars such as Toril Moi, who reveals that declaring oneself a woman writer responds to cultural provocations that reinforce stigmas of the female figure primarily as woman, not writer.
—Fidan Cheikosman, JSTOR Daily, 1 Jan. 2025
The tactics, then as now, were about attention, and provocation.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for provocation 
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Tamar Jacoby, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
All of that and more is a strong and effective response to the provocations from North Korea.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
This harem within echoes the work of scholars such as Toril Moi, who reveals that declaring oneself a woman writer responds to cultural provocations that reinforce stigmas of the female figure primarily as woman, not writer.
—Fidan Cheikosman, JSTOR Daily, 1 Jan. 2025
The tactics, then as now, were about attention, and provocation.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for provocation
Dictionary Entries Near provocation
Cite this Entry
“Provocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provocation. Accessed 20 Jan. 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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