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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of provocation
That’s because beneath all the fireworks and provocation, Kid Rock remains an unusually gifted ringmaster.
—
Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 10 May 2026
But Menjívar dismisses the idea that his appointment is a deliberate provocation for the US president.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
The problem nobody wanted to name Before the announcements, before Jensen’s entrance to stadium-level applause, McDermott opened Day 1 with a provocation.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Georg Baselitz, an acclaimed German artist prominent in the Neo-Expressionalist movement who had a penchant for provocation and was known for painting images upside down, has died.
—ABC News, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 10 May 2026
But Menjívar dismisses the idea that his appointment is a deliberate provocation for the US president.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
The problem nobody wanted to name Before the announcements, before Jensen’s entrance to stadium-level applause, McDermott opened Day 1 with a provocation.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Georg Baselitz, an acclaimed German artist prominent in the Neo-Expressionalist movement who had a penchant for provocation and was known for painting images upside down, has died.
—ABC News, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocation
Noun
-
Fitzgerald said there’s no lingering disappointment following last weekend’s three losses, just excitement as his team attempts to claim the league title ahead of the postseason Big 12 tourney and NCAAs.—
Gary Bedore
May 14,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
-
In a second post shared the next day, Miccio continued documenting her excitement with a new series of snaps of the happy pair.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
House members who occupy safe seats have fewer incentives to compromise or work across the aisle.—
Ashley Wu,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Provincial incentives can be stacked with the federal rebate to a bonus tax credit rate of 45 percent — a significant lever in an era when every greenlight is being scrutinized.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Renter Mandy Feng, who prefers to use a pseudonym for fear of being seen criticizing the authorities, said the stimulus the government is offering has failed to offset people’s anxiety over an uncertain economic outlook.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
-
Perhaps sensing this, the league trotted out a series of onstage stimuli between picks.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The swell of political dissatisfaction with Starmer from many of his colleagues, and what appears to be his narrow escape from an immediate leadership challenge, provides the impetus for the government to revamp its legislative agenda.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
-
The project now has fresh impetus with SBS Productions and SBS International, which is repping sales at the Cannes market.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
For this year's campaign, Kemp rebuffed Senate Republican leaders' encouragement to challenge Ossoff and declined to endorse either Collins or Carter.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
-
There’s so much encouragement, advice, and support happening in every one.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
That anticlimax proved enduring motivation for son Clark, now the chairman of the Chiefs.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 May 2026
-
Most organizations continue to approach performance through the lens of the individual, focusing on motivation or endurance, while overlooking the structural conditions that quietly determine how people function over time.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The solution, therefore, is to reduce stimulation to allow dopamine levels to recover.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
-
Beyond movement, the system uniquely uses sensory stimulation to reconnect Patterson with his physical self, aiming to restore the sensation of touch in his hands for the first time in 10 years.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocation. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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