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
And when it’s all said and done, a more provocative regime is going to be in charge with the same military capacities?
—
NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026
His savior was the experimental documentarian Harun Farocki, famous for provocative works that skewered bourgeois complacency.
—Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
The book includes provocative texts from Semiotext(e) contributors like Chris Kraus, Hedi El Kholti, Abdellah Taïa, Lauren Mackler and French novelist Constance Debré, among others.
—Sammy Loren, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
The provocative, genre-defying horror flick boasts unhinged gore, a delightfully dark sense of humor, Madigan as the creepiest aunt ever, and a crowd-pleasing finale.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocative
NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026
His savior was the experimental documentarian Harun Farocki, famous for provocative works that skewered bourgeois complacency.
—Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
The book includes provocative texts from Semiotext(e) contributors like Chris Kraus, Hedi El Kholti, Abdellah Taïa, Lauren Mackler and French novelist Constance Debré, among others.
—Sammy Loren, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
The provocative, genre-defying horror flick boasts unhinged gore, a delightfully dark sense of humor, Madigan as the creepiest aunt ever, and a crowd-pleasing finale.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocative
Adjective
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As small business owners and Broward natives, Binder and Terrell said Thrive’s rapid growth has been exciting to see.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
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Despite all the change the property has been through—or maybe because of it—the motel feels uniquely fresh and exciting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 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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Gosling voices the film’s thought-provoking questions about victimization and villainy with full commitment, and his rigidity — that tall posture, those limitless eyes — add another layer to the work.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
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My high school basketball coach was, depending on the day, either a motivational genius or a certified madman.—
Mark Glende,
Twin Cities,
27 Mar. 2026
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With traces of the trap titans that paved the way, Kushington’s motivational raps filled his trapper-friendly The Streets Is Yours debut project, which arrived last March.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Musk recently embraced the phrase with a meme of eyes reddened from the intoxicating exhaustion of situation monitoring—a recreation more stimulating, the joke goes, than any chemical substance.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2026
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Chuck Reger, franchise business coach at Five Star Painting, says bright red is highly stimulating and naturally increases alertness.—
Natasha Bazika,
Martha Stewart,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Some of the humor was mildly edgy, including jokes about pedophiles, the Epstein files and disgraced royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
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Dweck’s edgy comedy horro rDead Lover, Sofia Coppola documentary Marc By Sofia, and the official theatrical release of historical epic Palestine ’36.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocative. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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