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 retrospect, Kinetta feels like a dry run for Lanthimos, with all the droll affectation of his later provocations but little of the allegorical power or lunatic comedy that would distinguish them.
—
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
The Joint Chiefs added that the South’s military remains ready to repel any provocations by North Korea based on its solid military alliance with the United States.
—CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
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
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
The Joint Chiefs added that the South’s military remains ready to repel any provocations by North Korea based on its solid military alliance with the United States.
—CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocations
Noun
-
President Joe Biden's signature Inflation Reduction Act offered many incentives for the development of these alternative energy sources.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Germany scrapped incentives to boost purchases of fully electric vehicles about two years ago, a policy change that led to a sharp drop in demand for fully electric vehicles, initially.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
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
-
Cooperation turns into conflict Even countries that share common goals or values sometimes compete, and the motivations are rarely simple.—
Kaleb Demerew,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Still, the motivations behind the song feel somewhat obscured.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provocations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocations. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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