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
According to Israel’s Channel 12 News, Jerusalem has deployed 600 police officers and naval units, and even set up a special court at Ktzi’ot Prison to process detainees, with security officials warning of possible provocations at sea.
—
Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
What Happens Next NATO may increase air patrols, conduct training exercises, or reposition assets to demonstrate readiness and deter further provocations.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
In the century since, Woolf’s provocation has been met many times over—in works as varied as Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain, Audre Lorde’s The Cancer Journals, and John Green’s YA best seller The Fault in Our Stars.
—Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 25 Sep. 2025
At a minimum, more of these provocations are likely to happen unless NATO helps Ukraine neutralize Russia’s military.
—Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
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Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
What Happens Next NATO may increase air patrols, conduct training exercises, or reposition assets to demonstrate readiness and deter further provocations.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
In the century since, Woolf’s provocation has been met many times over—in works as varied as Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain, Audre Lorde’s The Cancer Journals, and John Green’s YA best seller The Fault in Our Stars.
—Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 25 Sep. 2025
At a minimum, more of these provocations are likely to happen unless NATO helps Ukraine neutralize Russia’s military.
—Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 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 5 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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