provoking 1 of 2

adjective

prə-ˈvō-kiŋ How to pronounce provoking (audio)
Definition of provokingnext
as in provocative
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction the host's provoking opinions are the reason why people tune in to his radio talk show in the first place

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

provoking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of provoke
1
as in encouraging
to rouse to strong feeling or action his teasing finally provoked her to anger bees generally will not sting unless they are provoked

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in raising
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being rankings that are sure to provoke an argument among film buffs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of provoking
Adjective
Always thought-provoking but never controversial, few were better at delivering a joke. — Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026 The ways the siblings cope with their versions of reality are quite different, quite haunting and quite thought-provoking. — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Verb
This year, the event will once again feature panels, thought-provoking conversations, roundtables, networking opportunities and activations, along with the celebrated Billboard En Vivo performances. — Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026 Videos also surfaced allegedly showing two teachers being attacked by students, provoking condemnation from the French president and officials as well as teaching unions. — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for provoking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provoking
  1. provocative
  2. encouraging
  3. raising
  4. charged
  5. stimulating
  6. triggering
  7. stirring
  8. promoting
Adjective
  • That wasn’t the only provocative subject that came up during the latest Weekend Update.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Cold and bitter, yet still provocative, or at least trying to be.
    — Sofia Franklyn, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of provocative
Verb
  • Traditional vendor evaluations reward platforms that maximize match rates, encouraging systems to force low-confidence records into identities simply to return an answer.
    — Filip Popovic, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • As Election Day approaches, organizations like ours will be encouraging women to vote because doing so matters enormously.
    — Sharon Sewell-Fairman, New York Daily News, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of encouraging
Verb
  • Recast as geometry, the old identities now point toward unmapped territory, raising questions that mathematicians are eager to explore.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Reader poll shows opposition The latest debate comes just a week after the council approved raising its members’ annual salaries by nearly 74%, from $69,000 to $119,750, beginning with the next term.
    — Natalie Jones, Baltimore Sun, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of raising
Adjective
  • The result is an urgent, propulsive song with a raw spirit and some of Pop’s most super-charged writing with deceptively simple lyrics about love and war, dripping with desperation.
    — Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of charged
Verb
  • Some see promise in manipulating the gut microbiome; others are exploring the potential of stimulating the vagus nerve, eliciting a psychedelic experience or repurposing drugs that might quiet inflammation in the brain.
    — Lynne Peeples, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Mounjaro and Zepbound, also made by Eli Lilly, mimic the effects of GLP-1 as well as GIP, a type of hormone that helps regulate blood sugar by stimulating insulin.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of stimulating
Verb
  • The latest attack came as part of the ongoing war between the army and the RSF, which broke out in April 2023, triggering one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, according to aid organizations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Military leaders identified the need to extend the runway and address safety requirements, triggering a major infrastructure effort around the base.
    — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of triggering
Verb
  • Add 1 cup orzo and cook, stirring often, until golden brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Andrew Durand, with his handsome crab-apple features, makes a perfectly quizzical Benjamin; Kelsee Kimmel is stirring as his true love, who shares his age just once.
    — Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of stirring
Verb
  • The canals will act as stormwater infrastructure for the island while promoting recreational activity, according to that document.
    — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Oct. 2026
  • An organization with Republican ties has distributed fliers promoting a socialist candidate, an apparent effort to pull support away from Brown.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of promoting

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provokes
provoking
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Cite this Entry

“Provoking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provoking. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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