provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌprä-və-ˈkā-shən 
1
: the act of provoking : incitement
2
: something that provokes, arouses, or stimulates
Examples of provocation in a Sentence
He can turn violent at the least provocation.
Her calmness in the face of repeated provocations impressed her friends.
With hardly any provocation, the crowd began to chant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Among other things, the natural offense Canadians have taken to Trump’s provocations and threats has led many to boycott travel to the U.S.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
The group declared that Damascus bears complete responsibility for the attack and reaffirmed its right to respond to such provocations.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Over his long, weird career, Lynch was always more interested in provocations than resolutions, so in that sense Straight Story is not an anomaly.
—Matthew Schnipper, Vulture, 31 July 2025
But for all its discoveries and provocations, the period-performance movement is also given to intimidating orthodoxies and soul-defeating austerity.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
The group declared that Damascus bears complete responsibility for the attack and reaffirmed its right to respond to such provocations.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Over his long, weird career, Lynch was always more interested in provocations than resolutions, so in that sense Straight Story is not an anomaly.
—Matthew Schnipper, Vulture, 31 July 2025
But for all its discoveries and provocations, the period-performance movement is also given to intimidating orthodoxies and soul-defeating austerity.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Cite this Entry
“Provocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provocation. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌpräv-ə-ˈkā-shən
1
: the act of provoking
2
: something that provokes
Medical Definition
provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌpräv-ə-ˈkā-shən
: the act or process of provoking
a nonspecific irritant that brings about provocation of bronchial asthma
Legal Definition
provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌprä-və-ˈkā-shən
1
: the act of provoking
2
: something that provokes, arouses, or stimulates
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