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provocative

adjective

prə-ˈvä-kə-tiv How to pronounce provocative (audio)
Definition of provocativenext
as in exciting
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction a provocative editorial that sparked a heated discussion

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of provocative Bob Mackie, the fashion designer whose visually provocative Hollywood style defined glamour for the 1970s -- including putting Carol Burnett in some of her kookiest getups and Cher in her raciest ones -- died Monday. — Mark Kennedy The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026 While Presley made appearances on The Milton Berle Show and The Steve Allen Show, among many others, Sullivan had hesitations about platforming the provocative singer, whose dance moves thrilled some audiences while offending others. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2026 Perhaps due to community guidelines, Novig didn’t post the provocative clip on Instagram or TikTok. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026 The 27-year-old pre-training researcher’s dramatic resignation has fired off a provocative warning on X that instantly sent ripples across the tech sector. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for provocative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocative
  1. exciting
  2. charged
  3. provoking
  4. motivational
  5. stimulating
  6. edgy
Adjective
  • Venus in your expansive 9th house connects awkwardly with Uranus in your domestic zone, making travel, learning, or a fresh interest feel exciting and slightly disruptive.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Pisces February 19 – March 20 A goal may become more exciting once other people are involved.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of exciting
Adjective
  • The result is an urgent, propulsive song with a raw spirit and some of Pop’s most super-charged writing with deceptively simple lyrics about love and war, dripping with desperation.
    — Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
  • What Happens Next Greene is likely to continue stoking controversy by breaking with her party, as conversations around immigration remain charged and divisive.
    — Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Definition of charged
Adjective
  • The Best Books of the Year (So Far) Our editors and critics choose the most captivating, notable, brilliant, surprising, absorbing, weird, thought-provoking, and talked-about books.
    — Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 24 June 2026
  • Chiarella has come up with an ingenious premise that is as twisted as it is thought-provoking.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
Definition of provoking
Adjective
  • Connected trainers, with streaks, reminders and visualized progress, target exactly that motivational gap.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The Mets could always count on Alonso to lighten the mood on bus rides with a comedy act, or to fire them up with a motivational speech.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of motivational
Adjective
  • Give highly stimulating content a place earlier in the evening.
    — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • This is the time to do the intellectually stimulating things.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulating
Adjective
  • Too edgy, too heavy, too real, too violent, too loud, too sexy?
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell Rhys and Russell brought an edgy energy to their red carpet attire.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of edgy

Browse Nearby Words

provocations
provocative
provocatively
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Cite this Entry

“Provocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocative. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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