as in rudely
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Recent Examples of provocatively
Most provocatively, Musk revealed that the company’s factory in Fremont, California, would be transformed into a production facility for Optimus, an abrupt end to well over a decade of automotive manufacturing at the facility.
—
Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
Is there a benefit in living that long, Green provocatively asks.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
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
Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
Is there a benefit in living that long, Green provocatively asks.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocatively
Adverb
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Like Cincinnati police, Schuler said sheriff's office supervisors usually take on complaints regarding less severe policy violations, such as a deputy speeding on a highway or answering the phone rudely.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Feb. 2026
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With Paisley in his ear, Bryan rudely interrupts Dylan to disparage Michigan and Illinois and whispers to Underwood about bench pressing.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
26 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Men sneered contemptuously at them, while teenagers used their names as insults.—
Mikhail Zygar,
Vanity Fair,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Castle made a putback dunk off Jeremiah Fears’ miss to pull Team Melo within one point of victory, but Edgecombe drew a foul from Donovan Clingan and coolly hit both free throws to end it at 25-24.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
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Castle made a putback dunk off Jeremiah Fears’ miss to pull Team Melo within one point of victory in the final, but Edgecombe drew a foul from Donovan Clingan and coolly hit both free throws to end it at 25-24.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Feb. 2026
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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The pair felt that their competitive careers had been coldly cut short.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
3 Feb. 2026
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That focus on efficiency included a coldly logical approach to salary-cap management, and an update of the bruising defense that Belichick had pioneered with 49ers old rivals, the 1980s iteration of the New York Giants.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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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
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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
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Not obnoxiously hipster, but cool and sophisticated.—
Tom Morris,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Jan. 2026
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Cackles, even, as the obnoxiously loud guy sitting behind me barked throughout the show.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocatively. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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