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 patrons in Cuba, Iran, and Russia will likely see this provocation by the United States as a show of strength, rather than an invitation to retaliate.
—
Kristina Foltz, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
He was appointed to co-lead the Documentary Film Initiative at the Shorenstein Center at Harvard’s Kennedy School, working to support new research, analysis, innovation and provocation around core issues facing the documentary field.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
Real provocation requires risk — and risk is exactly what most luxury leaders won’t take.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Worrying less about Taiwan, Beijing increasingly viewed North Korea’s nuclear provocations as a threat to China’s security interests rather than as an insurance policy against Taiwan’s independence.
—Shuxian Luo, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
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Kristina Foltz, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
He was appointed to co-lead the Documentary Film Initiative at the Shorenstein Center at Harvard’s Kennedy School, working to support new research, analysis, innovation and provocation around core issues facing the documentary field.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
Real provocation requires risk — and risk is exactly what most luxury leaders won’t take.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Worrying less about Taiwan, Beijing increasingly viewed North Korea’s nuclear provocations as a threat to China’s security interests rather than as an insurance policy against Taiwan’s independence.
—Shuxian Luo, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 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 8 Sep. 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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