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
The provocative, genre-defying horror flick boasts unhinged gore, a delightfully dark sense of humor, Madigan as the creepiest aunt ever, and a crowd-pleasing finale.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Contrarian doesn’t quite describe me; my rejection of The Pitt isn’t an attempt to appear provocative or argumentative.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
The collection’s most provocative move was its silhouette.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
The most provocative and explicitly political depictions of a female Creature came in Andy Warhol’s Flesh for Frankenstein (Warhol did not write, direct, or produce; it was written and directed by Warhol associate Paul Morrisey).
—Rory Doherty, Time, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocative
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Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Contrarian doesn’t quite describe me; my rejection of The Pitt isn’t an attempt to appear provocative or argumentative.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
The collection’s most provocative move was its silhouette.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
The most provocative and explicitly political depictions of a female Creature came in Andy Warhol’s Flesh for Frankenstein (Warhol did not write, direct, or produce; it was written and directed by Warhol associate Paul Morrisey).
—Rory Doherty, Time, 7 Mar. 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 15 Mar. 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?
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