Synonyms of provocations

provocations

noun

plural of provocation

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

• excitements
• encouragements
• stimulations
• stimuli
• motivations
• incitements
• instigations
• incentives
• stimulants
• inducements
• frustrations
• incitations
• goads
• inspirations
• irritants
• prods
• enticements
• exasperations
• spurs
• jogs
• nuisances
• headaches
• galvanizations
• lures
• inductions
• aggravations
• annoyances
• peeves
• pests
• hassles
• bothers

2

as in incentives

something that arouses action or activity

ready to retaliate at the slightest provocation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• incentives
• encouragements
• impetuses
• motivations
• stimuli
• impulses
• catalysts
• stimulants
• incitements
• instigations
• reasons
• yeasts
• momenta
• inducements
• goads
• spurs
• fuels
• shots in the arm
• invitations
• considerations
• boosts
• incitations
• causes
• motives
• antecedents
• sparks
• grounds
• occasions
• catalyzers

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disincentives
• counterincentives

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of provocations

Even if Iran does not dash for a bomb, Israel and the United States could respond to its provocations by carrying out more forceful and extensive attacks. — Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Recently, our president engaged in yet another of his unseemly acts, which quickly passed like so many other indecencies once fresh provocations arrived. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

In this go-round, all the franchise’s favorite tricks have lost their impact, and its provocations ring hollow. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Nobody’s taken the bait regarding White and Freedom’s trollish provocations. — Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026

The Connecticut rapper’s debut swings from tongue-in-cheek provocations to slam-poetry clunkers, landing a few solid punchlines and pop hooks along the way. — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 3 Aug. 2026

Keep power, keep money and oil flow, no regime change, a return in effect to JCPOA nuclear conditions, trade with the west - and yet Tehran won’t ceasefire or stop provocations. — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

The event didn’t come together, but his provocations got a lot of attention. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Nevertheless, the movie’s influence and filmmaking acumen are undeniable, and any serious horror enthusiast needs to grapple with its provocations. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 2 July 2026