as in provocative
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction
she is no stranger to controversy, having penned several instigative and inflammatory books attacking liberals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigative
Adjective
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Fennell is a polarizing filmmaker, with a self-consciously provocative streak.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026 -
In her provocative new spin on Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, the Oscar-winning filmmaker announces from the get-go that this isn’t your grandmother’s windswept Gothic romance.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 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
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“Instigative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigative. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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