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
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
Lawyers for both sides have made provocative comments, divulged private communications and made public a slew of documents while defending their clients.
—
Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025
The next fight As with most of Trump’s more provocative comments, his Gaza proposal was simultaneously derided and analyzed at home and abroad for hints of strategy.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025
Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett Johansson has been named the highest-grossing actress of all time, which is all the more impressive considering the amount of provocative and oddball indies she's done alongside her blockbuster fare.
—EW.com, 6 Feb. 2025
The provocative comments came as talks are ramping up this week with the promise of surging humanitarian aid and reconstruction supplies to help the people of Gaza recover after more than 15 months of devastating conflict.
—Zeke Miller, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for provocative 
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Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025
The next fight As with most of Trump’s more provocative comments, his Gaza proposal was simultaneously derided and analyzed at home and abroad for hints of strategy.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025
Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett Johansson has been named the highest-grossing actress of all time, which is all the more impressive considering the amount of provocative and oddball indies she's done alongside her blockbuster fare.
—EW.com, 6 Feb. 2025
The provocative comments came as talks are ramping up this week with the promise of surging humanitarian aid and reconstruction supplies to help the people of Gaza recover after more than 15 months of devastating conflict.
—Zeke Miller, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for provocative
Articles Related to provocative
Dictionary Entries Near provocative
Cite this Entry
“Provocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provocative. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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