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
In 2019, Khamenei engaged in a series of provocations against the United States.
—
Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
Even one of the more reputable internet weather personalities, Ryan Hall, whose YouTube channel staffs a team of meteorologists, and who has more than three million subscribers, often opts for flashy graphics and deceptive provocations to increase engagement.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026
In season two of The Adam Friedland Show, the former Cum Town host increasingly offset his clip-farming provocations with a streak of good-faith curiosity.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
This proved too much even for a party that had endured months of Frick’s provocations.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
The Secretariat of Citizen Security noted Mexico City Police only carried out containment work and did not repress protesters or respond to the provocations.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 15 Nov. 2025
In truth, there were many factors behind the fall of the Soviet Union — Ronald Reagan’s Star Wars program and other geopolitical provocations, the drop in oil prices, drastic leadership mistakes like the war in Afghanistan, a misguided alcohol policy, and [Mikhail] Gorbachev’s reforms.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2025
Returning to the status quo ante would signal that Beijing seeks to relax cross-strait tensions and will escalate only in response to new provocations.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
Lurie is handling the volatile situation with quiet aplomb, not an easy riser to the bait that is the president’s constant provocations of American mayors.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
Even one of the more reputable internet weather personalities, Ryan Hall, whose YouTube channel staffs a team of meteorologists, and who has more than three million subscribers, often opts for flashy graphics and deceptive provocations to increase engagement.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026
In season two of The Adam Friedland Show, the former Cum Town host increasingly offset his clip-farming provocations with a streak of good-faith curiosity.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
This proved too much even for a party that had endured months of Frick’s provocations.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
The Secretariat of Citizen Security noted Mexico City Police only carried out containment work and did not repress protesters or respond to the provocations.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 15 Nov. 2025
In truth, there were many factors behind the fall of the Soviet Union — Ronald Reagan’s Star Wars program and other geopolitical provocations, the drop in oil prices, drastic leadership mistakes like the war in Afghanistan, a misguided alcohol policy, and [Mikhail] Gorbachev’s reforms.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2025
Returning to the status quo ante would signal that Beijing seeks to relax cross-strait tensions and will escalate only in response to new provocations.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
Lurie is handling the volatile situation with quiet aplomb, not an easy riser to the bait that is the president’s constant provocations of American mayors.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocations
Noun
-
Typically, auto dealerships secure purchase orders from private or public fleet operators interested in buying their zero-emission vehicles at the lower rates facilitated by the state incentives.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Second, Connecticut should create incentives for insurance companies and financial services firms to partner with local training providers on apprenticeship and placement programs.—
Kevin J. Conlan,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In October 2024 ahead of her own stay at MSG, Billie Eilish recorded encouragements to take the subways for environmental benefits.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Hints, counsels, warnings, remonstrations, even encouragements are, in the end, of limited value.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The search warrant affidavit could shed light on the FBI’s motivations in seeking the ballots.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Hayley’s very upset by it, and that upsets Mickey, and that’s probably one of the biggest driving motivations for him, not just to save his own life, but to save his daughter and his family from the ramifications of this.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocations. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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