as in rudely
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Recent Examples of provocatively
In ’50s England, her professional academic lesbian shows up in a provocatively sexy outfit with a gauzy bodice.
—
Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
His decimal-point scores were provocatively precise, calculated to start fights.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
So far Kremlin commissars have threatened to wage war against two nations—Germany and South Africa—to stave off Putin’s detention, and have even provocatively warned that the headquarters of the ICC, in the Dutch city The Hague, could be blasted by Moscow’s missiles.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
His decimal-point scores were provocatively precise, calculated to start fights.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
So far Kremlin commissars have threatened to wage war against two nations—Germany and South Africa—to stave off Putin’s detention, and have even provocatively warned that the headquarters of the ICC, in the Dutch city The Hague, could be blasted by Moscow’s missiles.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocatively
Adverb
-
The three-time Cy Young Award winner was greeted rudely by a Shohei Ohtani lead-off double, but Scherzer managed to escape the inning unscathed.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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The furore surrounding Milan’s decision to play their February Serie A fixture against Como in Australia rudely interrupted what had been a silky smooth start to the season.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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The 2000s Sacramento Kings star guard looks fit enough to curl off a screen and coolly drop in an 18-footer jumper in front of a frenzied home playoff crowd, but Bibby does his basketball work now with a whistle.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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Addison Barger had two hits and an RBI for the American League champion Blue Jays, who coolly rebounded from their heartbreaking, late-night defeat in Game 3 with stellar work at the plate and on the mound.—
Staff report,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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As if the question arose, thought Leonora scornfully.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Another Paramount executive was shocked by how coldly the company dispensed with people who had worked there for decades.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
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Dodge attempted to keep their correspondence up, but Stein’s replies grew more and more infrequent, and further invitations to the Villa Curonia were coldly refused.—
Via Scribner,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The camera then switches from the chaos of the puppy, to the kitten—who is sitting in a relaxed position, blinking slowly, and staring almost disdainfully at the wriggling puppy.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Bella, in her podcast conversation with Trinny Woodall, recalled that once, at a village post office, a shop assistant disdainfully called her a hippie.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
What’s an ambassador/Second Lady to do but try to gather up her dignity, pull her obnoxiously tight sequined dress back down, and head back to the party for a bit before heading back to Winfield House alone.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
16 Oct. 2025
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Her patience is tested when Cliff obnoxiously tries to guess the name of her daughter — Dominique?—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provocatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocatively. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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