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
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
Jil Sander showed sexiness via razor-sharp tailoring and Gucci shifted the mood to a sleek, Tom Ford-era provocation, which was unapologetically seductive and fun.
—
Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 2 Mar. 2026
No matter what agenda the president espoused—the economic pragmatism of Rafsanjani, the liberal aspirations of Mohammad Khatami, the populist provocations of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the nuclear diplomacy of Hassan Rouhani—Khamenei emasculated him.
—Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026
His rise to prominence in France was fueled not only by incendiary rhetoric but also by the tactical and strategic use of intimidation, provocation, and violence, culminating in the role Morès played as the dark soul of the Dreyfus affair.
—Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
Rafael Manuel’s Filipiñana opens with a provocation coyly disguised as serenity.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 2 Mar. 2026
No matter what agenda the president espoused—the economic pragmatism of Rafsanjani, the liberal aspirations of Mohammad Khatami, the populist provocations of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the nuclear diplomacy of Hassan Rouhani—Khamenei emasculated him.
—Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026
His rise to prominence in France was fueled not only by incendiary rhetoric but also by the tactical and strategic use of intimidation, provocation, and violence, culminating in the role Morès played as the dark soul of the Dreyfus affair.
—Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
Rafael Manuel’s Filipiñana opens with a provocation coyly disguised as serenity.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocation
Noun
-
Newly out of school, Stanton was at first less interested in Smith’s ideas than she was attracted to the excitement and glamour of his circle.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Following the main festival, an exclusive after-party at Stadium Club keeps the excitement flowing as guests get to know their city’s newest craft spirit.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That’s largely because the city of San Diego has been ahead of this curve for years, reducing regulations, creating incentives to build lower-cost housing and doing away with zoning restrictions.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Investors leverage this report to measure tightness in the labor market, which influences expectations around wage inflation; in a hot labor market, businesses need to pay up to attract talent, but when there are way more job-seekers than openings, less financial incentives are needed.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Our market reacts to rate cuts more than any other stimulus.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
8 Mar. 2026
-
But economists expressed disappointment over the government’s limited stimulus.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That entrepreneurial bent was a major impetus behind For Denver FC’s earliest efforts—along with a love of the game and gender-equity activism.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
And that gave William the impetus and the confidence to go forward and cement his relationship with Catherine.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Measuring, analyzing, cautioning, dispensing encouragement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
When one dog needed encouragement to run through the tunnel, Magnuson intervened, shortening it to a few feet.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Banks tells the camera, imagining herself talking to a rival, explaining her motivations for wanting to be a producer.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
-
But there will be extra motivation upon his return to Tottenham, and the hope in the away end that perhaps a strong showing could propel his Palace career forward.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The brain needs time to shift out of the day, so a bath, quiet reading or low-stimulation play in the 30 to 60 minutes before bed can go a long way.—
Avery Newmark,
AJC.com,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Unlike most opioids, buprenorphine only partially activates opioid receptors, providing enough stimulation to prevent withdrawal and cravings while not causing euphoria.—
Rachel French,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocation. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
