provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌprä-və-ˈkā-shən 
1
: the act of provoking : incitement
2
: something that provokes, arouses, or stimulates
Examples of provocation in a Sentence
He can turn violent at the least provocation.
Her calmness in the face of repeated provocations impressed her friends.
With hardly any provocation, the crowd began to chant.
Recent Examples on the Web
The provocation unsettled many in the profession — and for good reason.
—
Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Speaking after a pre-arranged meeting in London, defense ministers from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy denounced the incident, calling it unacceptable provocation.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Johnn Macdougall/Getty Images German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has dismissed claims that Russian drones entered Polish airspace by accident, asserting in a Bundestag address that the flight paths were intentional and part of a broader pattern of provocation.
—Amanda Castro
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Why have there been no great trans artists, some may ask, bringing to mind a similar provocation that the art historian Linda Nochlin made, in 1971, regarding women artists.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
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Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Speaking after a pre-arranged meeting in London, defense ministers from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy denounced the incident, calling it unacceptable provocation.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Johnn Macdougall/Getty Images German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has dismissed claims that Russian drones entered Polish airspace by accident, asserting in a Bundestag address that the flight paths were intentional and part of a broader pattern of provocation.
—Amanda Castro
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Why have there been no great trans artists, some may ask, bringing to mind a similar provocation that the art historian Linda Nochlin made, in 1971, regarding women artists.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocation
Cite this Entry
“Provocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provocation. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌpräv-ə-ˈkā-shən
1
: the act of provoking
2
: something that provokes
Medical Definition
provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌpräv-ə-ˈkā-shən
: the act or process of provoking
a nonspecific irritant that brings about provocation of bronchial asthma
Legal Definition
provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌprä-və-ˈkā-shən
1
: the act of provoking
2
: something that provokes, arouses, or stimulates
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