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
An ambitious provocation, the book calls for a single-party system of government that ostensibly gives power back to the people (even if it’s been published by a shady corporation with its own interests in mind).
—
Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
Returning to the status quo ante would signal that Beijing seeks to relax cross-strait tensions and will escalate only in response to new provocations.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
Sun said Taiwan has prepared a series of responses if the People's Liberation Army’s (PLA) provocations escalate into acts of war and has detailed plans to counter and survive a potential Chinese naval blockade.
—Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Venezuelan officials have since condemned the military provocation, reporting from Reuters says.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
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Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
Returning to the status quo ante would signal that Beijing seeks to relax cross-strait tensions and will escalate only in response to new provocations.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
Sun said Taiwan has prepared a series of responses if the People's Liberation Army’s (PLA) provocations escalate into acts of war and has detailed plans to counter and survive a potential Chinese naval blockade.
—Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Venezuelan officials have since condemned the military provocation, reporting from Reuters says.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 27 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 3 Nov. 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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