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
What some see as provocative others experience as completely every day.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 20 Nov. 2025
The toilet, by Maurizio Cattelan — the provocative Italian artist known for taping a banana to a wall — went up for auction Tuesday evening at Sotheby's in New York.
—CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Japan also scrambled fighter jets Saturday after China flew a drone between Taiwan and Japan's Yonaguni Island in a move Tokyo called provocative, though not unprecedented.
—Britt Clennett, ABC News, 19 Nov. 2025
The amount of wealth and power on display — in the city, in its people — is provocative.
—Ahmed Naji, The Dial, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 20 Nov. 2025
The toilet, by Maurizio Cattelan — the provocative Italian artist known for taping a banana to a wall — went up for auction Tuesday evening at Sotheby's in New York.
—CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Japan also scrambled fighter jets Saturday after China flew a drone between Taiwan and Japan's Yonaguni Island in a move Tokyo called provocative, though not unprecedented.
—Britt Clennett, ABC News, 19 Nov. 2025
The amount of wealth and power on display — in the city, in its people — is provocative.
—Ahmed Naji, The Dial, 18 Nov. 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 26 Nov. 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
The Journal of the American Medical AssociationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share