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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of provoking
Ricardo Brito, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Her work is technically amazing, thought provoking and has tons of heart.
—Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
This is an installment of The Nightcrawler, a weekly collection of thought-provoking articles on tech, innovation, and long-term investing by Eric Markowitz of Nightview Capital.
—Big Think, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provoking
Adjective
The arrest could give Trump a pretext to pile on additional measures against Brazil, said Graziella Testa, a political science professor at the Federal University of Parana, adding that Bolsonaro seemed to be consciously provoking escalation.
—Ricardo Brito, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Her work is technically amazing, thought provoking and has tons of heart.
—Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
Verb
When foreign intelligence or international monitors would reveal an undeclared activity during the course of nuclear diplomacy, North Korea would ratchet up pressure by testing missiles or provoking Seoul.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
This is an installment of The Nightcrawler, a weekly collection of thought-provoking articles on tech, innovation, and long-term investing by Eric Markowitz of Nightview Capital.
—Big Think, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provoking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provoking
Adjective
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And the goal is to be provocative and push boundaries.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Fun, provocative and sometimes controversial, the MTV Video Music Awards stand out among other award shows.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As a practical matter, California making this move will only further inflame the gerrymandering problem, encouraging a further spiral of gerrymandering offsetting Democratic gains in other states.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
7 Sep. 2025
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Walking tours are also gaining prominence, minimizing car use and encouraging a deeper connection with the city.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Since 1995, when Trevor’s twins Joshua and Samuel died in England, the Marlborough father has dedicated his life to raising funds to donate to special care baby units throughout the country.—
Brian Anthony Hernandez,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
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This enclosed back segment of the property could work for raising chickens and other small farm animals —away from the main house.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For context, geomagnetic storms are caused by fiery eruptions from the sun's surface that send charged particles zipping toward our planet.—
Tom Brown,
Space.com,
20 May 2025
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The ceremony came at a charged moment, coinciding with Columbia University canceling its graduation ceremony (and largely closing off its campus).—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2024
Verb
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In this sense, homes offer a more private and personal environment, which can be comfortable and creatively stimulating.—
Megan Williams,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
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There has been some evidence that stimulating the nervous system in certain ways could make this recovery go faster, and researchers in China wanted to find out if this could be achieved through music.—
Eva Amsen,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The last jackpot winner claimed their prize in California on May 31, triggering the current unprecedented streak.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Imagine Maye triggering a triple-option run with Stevenson, keeping the ball and veering off the edge with Henderson behind him.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Shroud of Turin — a 14-foot-long linen cloth bearing an image of a crucified man — has captivated people for centuries, stirring debate over whether the relic once wrapped the body of Jesus Christ.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
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When the foam subsides, add the onion, thyme, bay leaf, and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are tender, translucent, and deeply golden brown, 8–10 minutes.—
Jeremiah Langhorne,
Saveur,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, the president’s criticism of mail-in ballots could risk disrupting the inroads Republicans made with voters last cycle, with the party spending millions promoting mail-in ballots ahead of the 2024 election.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
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It was created with the intention of promoting AI fluency and a future-ready, AI-confident workforce.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provoking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provoking. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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