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
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Recent Examples of provocative
Rex Reed, the film critic and author whose pithy reviews and provocative Hollywood interviews established him as a bad boy of entertainment journalism, died Tuesday morning, his rep told The Hollywood Reporter.
—
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
Last night there were jokes about very provocative subjects, handled by professionals.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 12 May 2026
Social media overflows with posts that have the outline of something inspiring, vulnerable, or provocative, but are hollow underneath.
—Jamil Zaki, CNBC, 12 May 2026
He was known for his provocative diss tracks on the platform, some of which amassed millions of views.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
Last night there were jokes about very provocative subjects, handled by professionals.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 12 May 2026
Social media overflows with posts that have the outline of something inspiring, vulnerable, or provocative, but are hollow underneath.
—Jamil Zaki, CNBC, 12 May 2026
He was known for his provocative diss tracks on the platform, some of which amassed millions of views.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocative
Adjective
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Anderson, like Wharton, is exciting but would also be extremely expensive, probably north of £100million.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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March 21 – April 19 A bold move could set exciting momentum in motion today.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 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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Ambitious, thought-provoking, thrilling and passionate.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
6 May 2026
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Then on May 1, amid the full moon in Scorpio, Venus will harmonize with Saturn in Aries, presenting the opportunity for something fun and thought-provoking to become real.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The thesis of Brady’s commencement, though, was battling through adversity and never quitting, and the best way for Brady to tell his motivational message was by telling the story of his Super Bowl LI comeback against the Atlanta Falcons.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
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That was the motivational cycle.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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This means that the stimulating effects of coffee increase the rate at which the kidneys filter the blood and fill up the bladder.—
Kristen Gasnick,
Verywell Health,
6 May 2026
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This pairing is fun, mentally stimulating and always evolving, which is exactly what keeps it alive.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Working in New York at the time, the author of Last Night in Brooklyn recalled edgy fun in public parks, livable working conditions in media, civil political discourse, and a robust, creative nightlife.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
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The Cannes Film Festival has introduced the world to future best-picture nominees including Parasite and Pulp Fiction, but just as often platformed movies that will ultimately be too edgy for Oscar.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocative. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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