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
Other jury awards in the festival’s main Competition went to less outwardly provocative, but no less trenchant, works.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
Arranged and produced by the artist herself along with her husband and guitarist, Paolo Carta, the song showcases a more provocative and refreshing side of the Italian superstar, better known in the Spanish-speaking world for her pop anthems and romantic ballads.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2026
Attorney to the stars Local sports teams suing one another is provocative, but not as sensational as those six weeks in 1998, when Babcock successfully defended Winfrey in Amarillo, where cattlemen brought suit after her TV show’s episode about mad cow disease.
—Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
The Saudis saw this as highly provocative, as unhelpful to the anti-Houthi coalition in Yemen, and as a threat, because of the Yemeni-Saudi border, to Saudi security.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
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.
Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
Arranged and produced by the artist herself along with her husband and guitarist, Paolo Carta, the song showcases a more provocative and refreshing side of the Italian superstar, better known in the Spanish-speaking world for her pop anthems and romantic ballads.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2026
Attorney to the stars Local sports teams suing one another is provocative, but not as sensational as those six weeks in 1998, when Babcock successfully defended Winfrey in Amarillo, where cattlemen brought suit after her TV show’s episode about mad cow disease.
—Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
The Saudis saw this as highly provocative, as unhelpful to the anti-Houthi coalition in Yemen, and as a threat, because of the Yemeni-Saudi border, to Saudi security.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Cite this Entry
“Provocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provocative. Accessed 23 Feb. 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
The Journal of the American Medical AssociationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
