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 For me, the quote offered a pithy, provocative way to distinguish my reporting from tech journalism. — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 Shah has previously made headlines for his fiercely nationalist and provocative posture towards both countries. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 As her creative uncertainty grows, a strange mystery unfolds when a series of provocative and obscene artworks inexplicably disappear. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 An interesting collective approach to American history was PRX Productions’ provocative series Monumental, in which features by a range of independent producers interrogated the history as reflected in public monuments. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 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
  • This is an exciting step forward for Eisenberg the director, who had a breakthrough a couple of years ago with the lovely A Real Pain, which earned co-star Kieran Culkin an Academy Award.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Mikel Arteta’s champions are built around a solid defence and strangling the opposition through possession, while Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea have had very little of the ball during his first few games, but have still built an exciting style.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 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
  • Mann, 42, started making YouTube content in 2018 under the Dhar Mann Studios banner, centered around morality and motivational videos.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, his endless threats worked like an aggressive motivational speech, compelling Canadians to come to their senses about the state of their overdependent relationship.
    — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of motivational
Adjective
  • This is the time to do the intellectually stimulating things.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
  • That’s really the most stimulating, but not necessarily on camera.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulating
Adjective
  • Foy’s dress was paired with a set of leather opera gloves that, while creating a material juxtaposition, also added a modern edgy element to the look.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Layers are everywhere in 2026, but this time the haircut is being imagined as less edgy and a bit softer—more flowing, more subtle.
    — Lucy Binder, Glamour, 30 Aug. 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 8 Sep. 2026.

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