as in exciting
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction
a provocative editorial that sparked a heated discussion
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provocative
Saucy and provocative thoughts on the internet won’t ignite the apocalypse.
—
Nicholas Clairmont, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2026
Data like Bachtrack’s can be provocative fodder for labor negotiations.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Each story unfolds at a rapid pace, bouncing between provocative shots of eccentric people and cramming two distinct sets of warring neighbors into each half-hour episode.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
With Alex Chilton as his sideman, the provocative Tav Falco brought blues and rockabilly screaming into the post-punk era.
—Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Nicholas Clairmont, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2026
Data like Bachtrack’s can be provocative fodder for labor negotiations.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Each story unfolds at a rapid pace, bouncing between provocative shots of eccentric people and cramming two distinct sets of warring neighbors into each half-hour episode.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
With Alex Chilton as his sideman, the provocative Tav Falco brought blues and rockabilly screaming into the post-punk era.
—Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocative
Adjective
-
Easy but exciting paths that felt like true tree lines to them.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
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Though just touring the building would have been exciting enough, on Saturday night Studio One — Abbey Road’s biggest space, typically used for recording film soundtracks — was transformed into a dance hall.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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At a charged political moment, her relatively sober look seemed intended to keep the focus on POTUS.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
12 Dec. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Collections and designers put their best foot forward, delivering high-caliber collections — some were uplifting, others were thought-provoking, most were both.—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
30 Jan. 2026
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But the arithmetic exercise is thought-provoking, nonetheless.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Jonas Valanciunas offered an abstract, motivational response this week.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
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But the Huskies’ defense has regressed since then, causing a lot of the damage to the motivational poster board.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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American ginseng has a slightly different chemical makeup and is considered less stimulating than its Asian counterpart.—
PubSubHub User,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
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Despite the name, kava tea contains no actual tea leaves and doesn’t have the stimulating effect of caffeine.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In the neighboring western state of Colima, one resident described how edgy residents rushed to supermarkets in a surge of panic buying to secure cooking oil, toilet paper and other staples.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Multi-strap Mary Janes feel like the cooler, edgier older sister of the classics.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocative. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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