provocative

adjective

pro·​voc·​a·​tive prə-ˈvä-kə-tiv 

: serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate

a provocative question

provocative noun

provocatively adverb

provocativeness noun

Synonyms

• charged
• edgy
• exciting
• inciting
• instigating
• instigative
• piquing
• provoking
• stimulating

Examples of provocative in a Sentence

a thoughtful and provocative book

It was one of his more provocative suggestions.

She was wearing a very provocative outfit.

Recent Examples on the Web

Deliberately provocative, the film stars Michael Gambon and Helen Mirren as the thief and the wife of the title. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025

Ankara imposed a four-day ban on gatherings and restricted access to some social media to restrict communications, with dozens of people detained over what authorities called provocative posts. —CNN, 20 Mar. 2025

His engaging and intimate biography provides a full picture of the woman unfairly accused of breaking up the Beatles, highlighting her long, provocative career as an avant-garde artist. —Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2025

The Breakfast Club usually makes headlines with its provocative celebrity interviews. —Jasmine Browley, Essence, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for provocative

• evocative
• talkative
• vocative

Kids Definition

provocative

adjective

pro·​voc·​a·​tive prə-ˈväk-ət-iv 

: serving or tending to provoke

provocative comments

provocatively adverb

provocativeness noun

Medical Definition

provocative

adjective

pro·​voc·​a·​tive prə-ˈväk-ət-iv 

: serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate

provocative test for coronary spasm

—The Journal of the American Medical Association