provoking 1 of 2

adjective

prə-ˈvō-kiŋ How to pronounce provoking (audio)
Definition of provokingnext
as in provocative
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction the host's provoking opinions are the reason why people tune in to his radio talk show in the first place

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

provoking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of provoke
1
as in encouraging
to rouse to strong feeling or action his teasing finally provoked her to anger bees generally will not sting unless they are provoked

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in raising
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being rankings that are sure to provoke an argument among film buffs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of provoking
Adjective
Always thought-provoking but never controversial, few were better at delivering a joke. — Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026 The ways the siblings cope with their versions of reality are quite different, quite haunting and quite thought-provoking. — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Verb
This year, the event will once again feature panels, thought-provoking conversations, roundtables, networking opportunities and activations, along with the celebrated Billboard En Vivo performances. — Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026 Videos also surfaced allegedly showing two teachers being attacked by students, provoking condemnation from the French president and officials as well as teaching unions. — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for provoking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provoking
  1. provocative
  2. encouraging
  3. raising
  4. charged
  5. stimulating
  6. triggering
  7. stirring
  8. promoting
Adjective
  • The title of the film, God Will Not Help, seems deliberately provocative.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026
  • That so-fake-it’s-real argument has underpinned many provocative artistic movements over the years.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of provocative
Verb
  • And those were largely thanks to dad encouraging me to do that.
    — Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The White House has been hands off with artificial intelligence while encouraging the buildout of data centers — a massive infrastructure gambit that is now in jeopardy after data centers proved a loser at the ballot box.
    — Justin Papp,Garrett Downs,Megan Cassella, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of encouraging
Verb
  • Going forward, Republicans must be guided by core conservative principles grounded in free market economics, defense of constitutional rights, and the protection of human life, religious liberty and parental rights in raising their children.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The 1983 Social Security reforms included changes to benefits, such as gradually raising the retirement age from 65 to 67, delaying the cost-of-living adjustment by six months and taxing Social Security benefits.
    — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of raising
Adjective
  • The result is an urgent, propulsive song with a raw spirit and some of Pop’s most super-charged writing with deceptively simple lyrics about love and war, dripping with desperation.
    — Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of charged
Verb
  • Coffee is known to have bowel-stimulating effects that may help those who need a little help getting their bowels moving after breakfast.
    — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 10 Nov. 2026
  • This potentially removes the need to add a separate immune-stimulating ingredient to the vaccine.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of stimulating
Verb
  • The next day, historic flooding tore through parts of the region — washing out highways, triggering rock and mudslides and cutting off communities that have spent more than a week navigating lengthy detours.
    — Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Once these new authorities are in place, Rodríguez is expected to declare the presidency vacant, triggering a six-month deadline for elections, according to the State Department.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of triggering
Verb
  • Cover, turn the heat down to low, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • ToruńCAMERIMAGE 2026 is taking a pluralistic approach to the subject by giving AI advocates and opponents equal time, and the programming appears more interested in stirring the pot and sparking discussion than taking a firm position.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of stirring
Verb
  • Popular iHeartRadio hosts and other social media personalities have been promoting them online as well.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The bond this year notes that $20 million will go toward promoting public-private partnerships.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of promoting

Browse Nearby Words

provokes
provoking
prowess
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Provoking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provoking. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All