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
None is as provocative as the one that Mary Jo Bang, a poet, has been working on for the better part of two decades.
—
Eric Bulson, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
One of the most provocative ideas of our times, that reality could be a computer simulation, took a serious hit in 2025.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 31 Dec. 2025
This holiday season, Amanda Seyfried is double the force to be reckon with as an unhinged wealthy housewife in Lionsgate’s box office success The Housemaid and in Mona Fastvold‘s period epic The Testament of Ann Lee about the iconoclastic, provocative founder of the Shaker movement.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025
Chappell Roan took down her tribute to Brigitte Bardot after learning about the provocative French actress’s controversial political views.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
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Eric Bulson, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
One of the most provocative ideas of our times, that reality could be a computer simulation, took a serious hit in 2025.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 31 Dec. 2025
This holiday season, Amanda Seyfried is double the force to be reckon with as an unhinged wealthy housewife in Lionsgate’s box office success The Housemaid and in Mona Fastvold‘s period epic The Testament of Ann Lee about the iconoclastic, provocative founder of the Shaker movement.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025
Chappell Roan took down her tribute to Brigitte Bardot after learning about the provocative French actress’s controversial political views.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 29 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 5 Jan. 2026.
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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