as in exciting
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction
a provocative editorial that sparked a heated discussion
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provocative
The 39-year-old actress was dressed as a provocative school girl in the images.
—
Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
In the starring role is one of the most provocative figures of Israel's theater scene, 41-year-old actor Ariel Bronz.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
Premiering at Sundance, this provocative, darkly funny tale of art, obsession, and power marks a vibrant comeback for the iconic indie auteur.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
The menu switched over to conventional diner fare, without the politically provocative dish names that helped set MAGA Burger apart.
—Aviva Bechky, Houston Chronicle, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
In the starring role is one of the most provocative figures of Israel's theater scene, 41-year-old actor Ariel Bronz.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
Premiering at Sundance, this provocative, darkly funny tale of art, obsession, and power marks a vibrant comeback for the iconic indie auteur.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
The menu switched over to conventional diner fare, without the politically provocative dish names that helped set MAGA Burger apart.
—Aviva Bechky, Houston Chronicle, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocative
Adjective
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The oil control remains an exciting proposition to control excess shine today for an intelligent matte coverage that adjusts with you.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
31 Mar. 2026
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Amazon's Spring Sale is almost at an end, but there are still some exciting deals for you!—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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At a charged political moment, her relatively sober look seemed intended to keep the focus on POTUS.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
12 Dec. 2025
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What Happens Next Greene is likely to continue stoking controversy by breaking with her party, as conversations around immigration remain charged and divisive.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Gosling voices the film’s thought-provoking questions about victimization and villainy with full commitment, and his rigidity — that tall posture, those limitless eyes — add another layer to the work.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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Collections and designers put their best foot forward, delivering high-caliber collections — some were uplifting, others were thought-provoking, most were both.—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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My high school basketball coach was, depending on the day, either a motivational genius or a certified madman.—
Mark Glende,
Twin Cities,
27 Mar. 2026
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With traces of the trap titans that paved the way, Kushington’s motivational raps filled his trapper-friendly The Streets Is Yours debut project, which arrived last March.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Musk recently embraced the phrase with a meme of eyes reddened from the intoxicating exhaustion of situation monitoring—a recreation more stimulating, the joke goes, than any chemical substance.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2026
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Chuck Reger, franchise business coach at Five Star Painting, says bright red is highly stimulating and naturally increases alertness.—
Natasha Bazika,
Martha Stewart,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Now, after his revamp, the house has achieved something truly uncommon in the Palm Beach area—a whiff of humor and a dose of edgy elegance.—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans,
Robb Report,
29 Mar. 2026
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Co-produced by Javier Sampedro, Yoyi Lagarza and Drumglass, the song is rooted in an alternative pop sound laced with an edgy reparto melody that’s backed by the genre’s distinct hard-hitting clave instrumentation.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocative. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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