1
as in excitement
something that arouses a strong response from another
a patient man who gets angry only from the greatest of provocations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in incentive
something that arouses action or activity
ready to retaliate at the slightest provocation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provocation
Absent a major provocation, few U.S. leaders, especially one as image conscious as Trump, would relish another such misadventure.
—
Robert A. Pape, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
Read: Stephen Miller triggers Los Angeles As is common in modern protests, there has also been ample viral footage from news organizations showing militarized police responding aggressively in encounters, sometimes without provocation.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
Popular opposition was fueled in part by the belief that U.S. nuclear weapons were not a deterrent against Soviet aggression, as NATO leaders argued, but a vehicle for reckless provocation and warmongering.
—Florence Gaub, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Supporting Athletic means acting with respect, not falling into provocations or losing our manners.
—Ali Rampling, New York Times, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Robert A. Pape, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
Read: Stephen Miller triggers Los Angeles As is common in modern protests, there has also been ample viral footage from news organizations showing militarized police responding aggressively in encounters, sometimes without provocation.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
Popular opposition was fueled in part by the belief that U.S. nuclear weapons were not a deterrent against Soviet aggression, as NATO leaders argued, but a vehicle for reckless provocation and warmongering.
—Florence Gaub, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Supporting Athletic means acting with respect, not falling into provocations or losing our manners.
—Ali Rampling, New York Times, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocation
Noun
-
The Club World Cup had significant teething problems ahead of the tournament, from sponsorship challenges to broadcast deals and ticket sales, but FIFA will be betting on the excitement of these later rounds of the tournament creating a lasting impression that the tournament is a success.—
Steve Price,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
For the 2024 show, Nelson shared a statement in a press release to express his excitement regarding the forthcoming concerts.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Companies can offer discounts or incentives to customers to try to entice them to buy trips or vacations.—
Corina Vanek,
AZCentral.com,
7 July 2025
-
The bill eliminates critical renewable energy incentives, redirects funding toward fossil fuels and nuclear power, and dismantles key progressive priorities of the Biden administration.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Chinese markets were sharply higher in earlier trading, buoyed by signs of possible additional stimulus measures in China and Goldman Sachs Group’s upgrade of Hong Kong stocks to market-weight.—
Teresa Cerojano,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
-
Using a tool to measure how patients perceive stimuli like temperature and touch, researchers in Germany found that women with lipedema had a lower pain threshold compared with other women.—
Francesca Gilbard,
NBC news,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
But another member of the Southeastern Connecticut delegation who served as the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Aundre Bumgardner, D-Groton, said that the Plainfield proposal had been the primary impetus for the bill.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
9 July 2025
-
Still, Streeter suggested that further pressure from the U.K. regulator could provide the impetus required to accelerate changes within the company.—
Karen Gilchrist,
CNBC,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Jason Bateman even offered Shepard some encouragement to lock it down.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
12 July 2025
-
What a torrent of encouragement and loving advice and undeserved flattery over the years!—
John Updike,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Here are a few of the motivations that incentive experts to switch teams.—
Melanie Hughes,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
Over the years, many readers have shared how Ruby inspired them to pursue their dreams and gave them the motivation to graduate.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocation. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.
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