1
as in excitements
something that arouses a strong response from another
a patient man who gets angry only from the greatest of provocations
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in incentives
something that arouses action or activity
ready to retaliate at the slightest provocation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provocations
According to Israel’s Channel 12 News, Jerusalem has deployed 600 police officers and naval units, and even set up a special court at Ktzi’ot Prison to process detainees, with security officials warning of possible provocations at sea.
—
Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
What Happens Next NATO may increase air patrols, conduct training exercises, or reposition assets to demonstrate readiness and deter further provocations.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Thoughtful provocations like his help keep liberalism from complacency.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, The New York Review of Books, 25 Sep. 2025
At a minimum, more of these provocations are likely to happen unless NATO helps Ukraine neutralize Russia’s military.
—Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2025
Both sides accuse each other of provocations and trespassing in incidents featuring use of water cannon, boat-ramming and maneuvers by China’s Coast Guard that the Philippines regards as dangerously close, as well as jets shadowing Philippine aircraft there.
—Reuters, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
Gray’s ski‑scapes are quiet provocations, whispering of belonging and insisting on visibility.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 11 Aug. 2025
Their fellow students are outraged by Clyde’s phony, hokey provocations against Jewish people and women, leaving Cartman feeling left out.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
The group declared that Damascus bears complete responsibility for the attack and reaffirmed its right to respond to such provocations.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
What Happens Next NATO may increase air patrols, conduct training exercises, or reposition assets to demonstrate readiness and deter further provocations.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Thoughtful provocations like his help keep liberalism from complacency.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, The New York Review of Books, 25 Sep. 2025
At a minimum, more of these provocations are likely to happen unless NATO helps Ukraine neutralize Russia’s military.
—Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2025
Both sides accuse each other of provocations and trespassing in incidents featuring use of water cannon, boat-ramming and maneuvers by China’s Coast Guard that the Philippines regards as dangerously close, as well as jets shadowing Philippine aircraft there.
—Reuters, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
Gray’s ski‑scapes are quiet provocations, whispering of belonging and insisting on visibility.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 11 Aug. 2025
Their fellow students are outraged by Clyde’s phony, hokey provocations against Jewish people and women, leaving Cartman feeling left out.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
The group declared that Damascus bears complete responsibility for the attack and reaffirmed its right to respond to such provocations.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocations
Noun
-
Tesla had a first-mover advantage in China in 2013, leveraging the government’s support of EVs with subsidies and incentives and its production base and opening a gigafactory in Shanghai in 2019.—
Rebecca A. Fannin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Company finances via private and public funds, through co-productions, incentives and strategic partners.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Ward and Curlee also started the app Counterbalance, which provides daily encouragements, recipes, community and more.—
Emy LaCroix,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But because so much less is known about what made Gein tick than the motivations of Dahmer and the Menendezes, Hunnam had room to maneuver and to invent.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The actor discussed his character's motivations in a 2024 interview with TV Insider.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provocations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocations. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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