provocative
adjective
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Definition of provocative
: serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate a provocative question
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Synonyms & Antonyms for provocative
Synonyms
charged, edgy, exciting, inciting, instigating, instigative, piquing, provoking, stimulating
Antonyms
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Examples of provocative in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These photos are not risque, or provocative, or slutty. — Blake Bakkila, Health.com, "This Underwear Model Posing in a Wheelchair Is Breaking Stereotypes and We Couldn’t Be Happier," 11 July 2018 Zell has a history of provocative statements, including using vulgarities during panel discussions and live television interviews. — Gillian Tan, chicagotribune.com, "Sam Zell uses vulgarity while saying he promotes women on merit," 6 June 2018 Yet this development doesn't register as truly provocative, since Haneke has already explored the longing for death more disturbingly (in Benny’s Video) and more poignantly (in Amour). — Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader, "Film / Foreign Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke is treading water in Happy End," 13 Mar. 2018 Single Carrot Theatre, the ambitious troupe that has stirred up Baltimore’s cultural life with provocative productions since 2007, is facing a financial crisis. — Tim Smith, baltimoresun.com, "Single Carrot Theatre seeks to raise $55,000 by July 31 to stay afloat," 10 July 2018 Most provocative idea Kustra suggested that the state restructure the governance model for Idaho colleges and universities. — Dana Oland, idahostatesman, "Boise State-Apple U? Facebook sports? Bob Kustra still has bold ideas as retirement nears," 11 June 2018 Harvard professor Graham Allison posed that question in a provocative book published last summer. — Clay Chandler, Fortune, "Are the U.S. and China "Destined for War"?," 2 June 2018 After the Singapore summit, the U.S. and South Korea agreed to suspend military exercises that had angered Pyongyang and that Mr. Trump had described as provocative and expensive. — Andrew Jeong, WSJ, "North Korea Submarine Development Signals Increased Nuclear Threat," 6 July 2018 The resulting images are funny and provocative and oddly beguiling. — Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, "At Yale: on the threshold and under the volcano," 6 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'provocative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for provocative
provocative
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of provocative
: causing discussion, thought, argument, etc.
: causing sexual feelings or excitement
See the full definition for provocative in the English Language Learners Dictionary
provocative
adjective
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Kids Definition of provocative
: serving or likely to cause a reaction (as interest, curiosity, or anger) a provocative statement
provocative
adjective
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Medical Definition of provocative
: serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate provocative test for coronary spasm —Journal of the American Medical Association
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