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

These people, including Mohsen Rezaei, the national security adviser, and Hossein Taeb, the commander of Iran’s main domestic paramilitary forces, think deterring further attacks requires a decisive, aggressive response to any provocations. — Narges Bajoghli, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026

The provocations are garnering Hilton plenty of attention though probably not winning him very many new votes. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Slam Frank’s provocations, however, are leavened by Fox’s genuine skill with and respect for musical theater. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 Oct. 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