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
Many students have acted boldly, and occasionally made dumb mistakes, because they were outraged by historical wrongs, incendiary speakers, cultural stereotypes, or other provocations.
—
Christopher L. Eisgruber, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Produced before the rigid censorship of Hollywood’s Hays Code, The Old Dark House is much more explicit than horror films in the years to follow, dripping with provocations and innuendos, with a daring sensibility befitting a director whose own personal life flew in the face of convention.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
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
Christopher L. Eisgruber, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Produced before the rigid censorship of Hollywood’s Hays Code, The Old Dark House is much more explicit than horror films in the years to follow, dripping with provocations and innuendos, with a daring sensibility befitting a director whose own personal life flew in the face of convention.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocations
Noun
-
And that’s because the Biden-era incentives were, in large part, about China, too, with provisions to incentivize American battery factories and penalties for companies that didn’t build enough in the US.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Workers are given incentives to leave the union, or threatened.—
Sourcing Journal,
Sourcing Journal,
15 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
-
To wit, at times the camera tracks Hedda’s movements in long, unbroken takes as if engaged in an endless, ongoing search for her motivations—and interiority.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Trump’s comment raises questions about the independence of federal prosecutors and the appearance of political motivations behind high-profile investigations.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provocations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocations. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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