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
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
Some experts underscored the elevated risk of political violence created by social media, saying its algorithms favor provocative posts that induce user engagement but exacerbate political division.
—
Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
The cinematic feature directed by Jordan Hemingway sees Twigs and her friend book a room with an unlucky fellow’s credit card as the scene evolves into a provocative hotel rendezvous sans fellow.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
Will Luca Guadagnino’s provocative After the Hunt play well uptown?
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Despite these uncertainties, the Devel Sixteen stands as a symbol of engineering ambition, a provocative attempt to break the ceiling of what’s possible with internal combustion.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
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Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
The cinematic feature directed by Jordan Hemingway sees Twigs and her friend book a room with an unlucky fellow’s credit card as the scene evolves into a provocative hotel rendezvous sans fellow.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
Will Luca Guadagnino’s provocative After the Hunt play well uptown?
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Despite these uncertainties, the Devel Sixteen stands as a symbol of engineering ambition, a provocative attempt to break the ceiling of what’s possible with internal combustion.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Cite this Entry
“Provocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provocative. Accessed 28 Sep. 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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