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
The power couple has rarely responded to Trump’s provocations.
—
Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
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
Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocations
Noun
-
The Russian state has introduced incentives for women who have three or more children, including lump-sum payments, tax breaks and state benefits.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
At the very least, this populist President would have demanded compensation for displaced workers in the form of proper retraining programs, relocation grants, and expanded incentives for businesses to invest in depressed regions.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
23 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
-
Does that desire to be on the field for offseason activities trump his financial motivations at the end of the day?—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Whether the motivations are development, altruism, returns or security, there is a role and reward for putting energy and resources into this effort.—
Ajaypal Banga,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocations. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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