provocation

noun

ˌprä-və-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce provocation (audio)
Definition of provocationnext
1
as in excitement
something that arouses a strong response from another a patient man who gets angry only from the greatest of provocations

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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 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 provocation The Dirties includes a scene where Johnson’s out-of-touch high-school character is in blackface, while the Nirvanna web series has bits that carelessly chase juvenile provocation, including stray uses of racial accents and slurs. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 July 2026 According to the document, Monasterio began hitting the dog without provocation, then struck the victim with a closed fist, and again grabbed her by the neck with both hands, strangling her and impeding her breathing for a second time. — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 29 July 2026 Keep power, keep money and oil flow, no regime change, a return in effect to JCPOA nuclear conditions, trade with the west - and yet Tehran won’t ceasefire or stop provocations. — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Freitas has embraced Mugler’s penchant for provocation and powerful femininity, bringing back linebacker shoulders and styles like the nipple-ring dress worn by Chappell Roan at this year’s Grammys. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for provocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocation
  1. excitement
  2. incentive
  3. stimulus
  4. impetus
  5. encouragement
  6. motivation
  7. stimulation
Noun
  • Despite her excitement, Reynolds admits joining such a beloved series came with plenty of pressure.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • DaCosta said that Moore greeted students with excitement every day as parents dropped them off.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of excitement
Noun
  • There has been no confirmation from SpaceX or Louisiana officials … But earlier this year the Louisiana Legislature passed a package of incentives for aerospace companies, including liability protections and property tax breaks.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Marketers need to treat the student as the primary decision-maker, using tangible incentives, student-friendly pricing, and direct campus engagement to lower the risk of trying a new product and justify its value well past move-in day.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of incentive
Noun
  • Instead, Beijing rolled out a roughly $586 billion stimulus—equivalent to around 12 percent of China’s GDP in 2008—funneled almost entirely into infrastructure and construction.
    — Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The gloves must be applied directly to someone's skin to deliver a pain stimulus that typically helps an officer gain compliance within seconds, according to the company.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulus
Noun
  • The impetus for this work, according to the researchers, is that drug-resistant bacteria are rife and growing.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026
  • For many, discovering quaint antique shops is the impetus for hopping in the car and taking a leisurely drive.
    — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of impetus
Noun
  • Officials are asking residents to continue to pray and send words of encouragement and support to those affected by the flooding.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Spacing of races will be important as encouragement for participation in the six-race series in a five-month span.
    — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of encouragement
Noun
  • Essential California sat down with Ben Orbison, FOLAR’s director of strategic communications, and spoke about festival highlights and motivations.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Cross-functional access can then expand gradually, creating new opportunities while maintaining focus and motivation for growth.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of motivation
Noun
  • These are often conditions that mostly affect women and that can leave patients completely disabled—sensitive to light and sound, spending most of their time in a completely dark room with no stimulation.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Let’s let go of the self-identification with boredom or over-stimulation claiming to overshadow our path to progress.
    — Tony Lobl, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulation

Browse Nearby Words

provocateurs
provocation
provocations
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Cite this Entry

“Provocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocation. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on provocation

Nglish: Translation of provocation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about provocation

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