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 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
Sun said Taiwan has prepared a series of responses if the People's Liberation Army’s (PLA) provocations escalate into acts of war and has detailed plans to counter and survive a potential Chinese naval blockade.
—Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 27 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
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
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
Sun said Taiwan has prepared a series of responses if the People's Liberation Army’s (PLA) provocations escalate into acts of war and has detailed plans to counter and survive a potential Chinese naval blockade.
—Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 27 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
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
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 11 Jan. 2026.
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