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
Many students have acted boldly, and occasionally made dumb mistakes, because they were outraged by historical wrongs, incendiary speakers, cultural stereotypes, or other provocations.
—
Christopher L. Eisgruber, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
It was delivered with a smile—but heard as a provocation by millions.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Produced before the rigid censorship of Hollywood’s Hays Code, The Old Dark House is much more explicit than horror films in the years to follow, dripping with provocations and innuendos, with a daring sensibility befitting a director whose own personal life flew in the face of convention.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
Israel claims that the blockade is legal and has called the flotilla a provocation.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
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Christopher L. Eisgruber, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
It was delivered with a smile—but heard as a provocation by millions.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Produced before the rigid censorship of Hollywood’s Hays Code, The Old Dark House is much more explicit than horror films in the years to follow, dripping with provocations and innuendos, with a daring sensibility befitting a director whose own personal life flew in the face of convention.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
Israel claims that the blockade is legal and has called the flotilla a provocation.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 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 10 Oct. 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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