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
An unprovoked shark attack is defined by ISAF as when a shark bites a human in its own habitat without any provocation by the human.
—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Cromer confirmed the fight in her own post on X, but claimed that she was assaulted without provocation.
—
Ct Jones,
Rolling Stone,
25 June 2026
The Dangerous Kind of Success Wernicke opens with a provocation that reframes the whole conversation around data failure.
—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Latvian intelligence is warning that Russia is preparing possible provocations against the Baltic states or Poland, including drones or any other hybrid attacks, in an effort to pressure NATO countries to stop supporting Ukraine.
—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Cromer confirmed the fight in her own post on X, but claimed that she was assaulted without provocation.
—
Ct Jones,
Rolling Stone,
25 June 2026
The Dangerous Kind of Success Wernicke opens with a provocation that reframes the whole conversation around data failure.
—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Latvian intelligence is warning that Russia is preparing possible provocations against the Baltic states or Poland, including drones or any other hybrid attacks, in an effort to pressure NATO countries to stop supporting Ukraine.
—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocation
Noun
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And just as the rental market of humanoid robots shows signs of cooling and the initial excitement wanes, concerns of an industry bubble have risen.
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Cunningham, 63, can remember the fanfare and excitement around the bicentennial in 1976.
Noun
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Nearly a year after the expiration of a $7,500 federal tax incentive for new electric vehicles, California is stepping in to try to motivate buyers to go electric.
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The attack shocked Monaco, a coastal playground for the rich and famous known for its tax-friendly incentives, royal family and Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Noun
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But if productivity growth is low, then stimulus just turns into inflation—too many dollars chasing too few goods.
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By integrating smart shades into the components of major smart home ecosystems (those supporting Matter, Thread, Zigbee, or Z-Wave specifically), these systems can react to real-time stimuli.
Noun
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Whether the impetus is to satisfy a desire for seclusion or to achieve the investment benefits that development allows, these three properties, triangulated across the globe, open up new frontiers and ways of living.
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Not much separated these two teams over 90 minutes, with limited attacking impetus and much of the game being played in midfield.
Noun
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Once all but deserted, the town experienced a revival in 1965, when artists and musicians began to flock there after encouragement from the Yugoslav government.
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Alexandria government roasted for absurd anti-fireworks tweet The government of Alexandria tweeted Wednesday a blunt warning about fireworks — and encouragement to snitch on your neighbors.
Noun
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Teams Like Norway Are Trying Re-Create Home Conditions Of course, good nutrition isn’t the only motivation behind what Norway and other teams may be doing.
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For years, Governor Ron DeSantis has fought the College Board, the group that administers the AP test, over how its standardized tests portray many things, including race and gender but also the motivations of the Founding Fathers.
Noun
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Apollo Neuro uses vibrotactile stimulation on the wrist or ankle.
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According to Playlist, parent company of the gym and spa membership app ClassPass, the number of venues on ClassPass with electrical muscle stimulation workouts rose more than 16% from 2023 to 2025.
Cite this Entry
“Provocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocation. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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