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Definition of provocative
: serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate a provocative question
provocative
nounprovocatively
adverbprovocativeness
nounFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of provocative in a Sentence
a thoughtful and provocative book
It was one of his more provocative suggestions.
She was wearing a very provocative outfit.
Recent Examples of provocative from the Web
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This would be cheaper and less provocative than testing the KN-08, particularly as its second stage would quite possibly fall on Japan, setting off a furore.
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Two years ago, Stacey Patton, a journalism professor at historically black Morgan State University in Baltimore, posed a provocative question on her Facebook page.
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The tough new tone comes after Mr. Trump expressed disappointment with President Xi Jinping for his failure to do more to pressure North Korea to stop its provocative behavior.
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When done well, romantic comedy can be as provocative as drama.
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Now, a provocative study suggests that some ribosomes, like modern factories, specialize to manufacture only certain products.
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National security is front and center in people’s minds right now—from the continuing fight with ISIS to dealing with provocative moves by Russia.
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The family is central to the drama, because the mother (Alyssa Sutherland) is a progressive teacher, a strict parent and a longtime town resident with a provocative past.
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Media critics, too, argued that Jones’s extreme views did not deserve such a prominent platform – and that the interview itself might have been designed to be provocative and controversial, meant to create buzz for Ms. Kelly’s new show on NBC.
These 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.
First Known Use of provocative
15th century
PROVOCATIVE Defined for English Language Learners
provocative
playDefinition of provocative for English Language Learners
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: causing discussion, thought, argument, etc.
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: causing sexual feelings or excitement
PROVOCATIVE Defined for Kids
provocative
playDefinition of provocative for Students
: serving or likely to cause a reaction (as interest, curiosity, or anger) a provocative statement
provocatively
adverbMedical Dictionary
Learn More about provocative
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See words that rhyme with provocative Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for provocative Spanish Central: Translation of provocative Nglish: Translation of provocative for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of provocative for Arabic speakers
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