provocative
adjective
pro·voc·a·tive
prə-ˈvä-kə-tiv 
: serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate
a provocative question
provocative
noun
provocatively
adverb
provocativeness
noun
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 on the Web
Francesco Vezzoli has been making provocative and genre-breaking art—encompassing film and video, embroidery, sculpture, and photography; and often playing with notions of celebrity, glamour, and spectacle—for more than three decades.
—
Corey Seymour, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2025
Cambodia's defense ministry said in a statement that the Thai military had launched dawn attacks on its forces at two locations, following days of provocative actions, and added that Cambodian troops had not retaliated.
—Panarat Thepgumpanat, USA Today, 7 Dec. 2025
However, Japan has noted that its aircraft kept a safe distance and did nothing provocative.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Dec. 2025
Others compared the sultry shoot to Brooke Shields’ provocative 1980 Calvin Klein denim ads.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
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Corey Seymour, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2025
Cambodia's defense ministry said in a statement that the Thai military had launched dawn attacks on its forces at two locations, following days of provocative actions, and added that Cambodian troops had not retaliated.
—Panarat Thepgumpanat, USA Today, 7 Dec. 2025
However, Japan has noted that its aircraft kept a safe distance and did nothing provocative.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Dec. 2025
Others compared the sultry shoot to Brooke Shields’ provocative 1980 Calvin Klein denim ads.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Cite this Entry
“Provocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provocative. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
provocative
adjective
pro·voc·a·tive
prə-ˈväk-ət-iv
: serving or tending to provoke
provocative comments
provocatively
adverb
provocativeness
noun
Medical Definition
provocative
adjective
pro·voc·a·tive
prə-ˈväk-ət-iv
: serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate
provocative test for coronary spasm—The Journal of the American Medical Association
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