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 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
And the provocations seem to be working.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 18 Nov. 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
To legitimize its war, China would try to point to provocations by Taipei and Washington—which is why the no-deadline pledge would incentivize them to refrain from acts that Beijing could hold up as compelling casus belli.
—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
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
Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
And the provocations seem to be working.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 18 Nov. 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
To legitimize its war, China would try to point to provocations by Taipei and Washington—which is why the no-deadline pledge would incentivize them to refrain from acts that Beijing could hold up as compelling casus belli.
—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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocations
Noun
-
Kansas and Missouri have spent the past 18 months trying to secure the team through sweeping stadium-funding incentives packages — which the Chiefs used last month to announce their intentions for a move to Kansas.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The country is largely focused on a self-sufficiency drive to build up its chipmaking capabilities, a push that’s included readying a new round of incentives of as much as $70 billion for the chip sector.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 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
-
Trump has repeatedly touted Venezuela’s rich oil supply as among the motivations for the January 2 military assault on the country and the capture of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, who has since been charged with drug trafficking and weapons possession.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
7 Jan. 2026
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Though the videos did not reveal a motive, the federal investigation into Valente’s motivations will continue, the US attorney’s office said.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocations. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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