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
Go deeper: Behind the Curtain: Trump's boundary-busting provocations Editor's note: This article has been updated with President Trump's comment to reporters aboard Air Force One.
—
Avery Lotz, Axios, 30 Mar. 2025
Not least from information or provocation secretly supplied by the Kremlin.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Scroll through enough of it, and the lines between jokey provocation and unironic aspiration become difficult to discern.
—Charles Homans, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
China is often accused by U.S. allies of provocations in the South China Sea—where China's sovereignty claims overlap with those of several neighbors.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Avery Lotz, Axios, 30 Mar. 2025
Not least from information or provocation secretly supplied by the Kremlin.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Scroll through enough of it, and the lines between jokey provocation and unironic aspiration become difficult to discern.
—Charles Homans, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
China is often accused by U.S. allies of provocations in the South China Sea—where China's sovereignty claims overlap with those of several neighbors.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocation
Noun
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To demonstrate the flexibility of the Bronco SUV, last week Ford Motor Co. revealed two project vehicles to enthusiasts who want to personalize their Broncos for off-road excitement.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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Letting kids explore freely empowers them to find excitement in books.—
Ashleigh N. DeLuca,
Parents,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Trump administration is also working to undo incentives around clean energy, particularly the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.—
Umair Irfan,
Wired News,
26 Apr. 2025
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Slate Auto There’s also the issue of federal incentives.—
Abigail Bassett,
ArsTechnica,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Conscious perception is the ability of human beings to become aware of the stimuli received by their senses.—
Jorge Garay,
Wired News,
19 Apr. 2025
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This micro-moment creates space between stimulus and response, where emotional intelligence flourishes.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The impetus for his ire had everything to do with Minnesota big man Rudy Gobert, who was being chastised by the fan when Edwards decided to step in and take over the exchange.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Union leaders said the impetus for the strike was a string of 44 labor law violations allegedly committed by the county, including retaliation and contracting out work that’s supposed to be done by union members.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Katherine, an avid reader who loves James Joyce and modern poetry, tries her hand at screenwriting, with Fred’s encouragement.—
Mark Athitakis,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2025
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Not only this, his friends also came to his defense, offering words of encouragement.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Strategic and critical thinking are valuable no matter the level of seniority, as is empathy, as marketing is all about connecting with an audience by understanding their needs and motivations.—
Christine Pilkington,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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Walking with others can also promote a sense of camaraderie, along with accountability, encouragement, and motivation to stick with a walking routine.14 8.—
Cathy Nelson,
Verywell Health,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocation. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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