provocative
adjective
pro·voc·a·tive
prə-ˈvä-kə-tiv 
: serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate
a provocative question
provocative
noun
provocatively
adverb
provocativeness
noun
Examples of provocative in a Sentence
a thoughtful and provocative book
It was one of his more provocative suggestions.
She was wearing a very provocative outfit.
Recent Examples on the Web
For similar reasons, the Trump administration should take a public stance on cross-strait issues that is less provocative than the Biden administration’s.
—
Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Collectively, the four churned out fiery and provocative punk rock fronted by Zapata’s compelling and charismatic singing.
—David Chiu, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Her first film was also her first big break, in Spike Lee's provocative 1991 romantic satire Jungle Fever.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 25 Feb. 2025
This swirling intellectual history places the Israeli regime’s invocation of the Holocaust to justify its assault on Gaza in a provocative global context.
—The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
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Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Collectively, the four churned out fiery and provocative punk rock fronted by Zapata’s compelling and charismatic singing.
—David Chiu, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Her first film was also her first big break, in Spike Lee's provocative 1991 romantic satire Jungle Fever.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 25 Feb. 2025
This swirling intellectual history places the Israeli regime’s invocation of the Holocaust to justify its assault on Gaza in a provocative global context.
—The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Articles Related to provocative
Cite this Entry
“Provocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provocative. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
provocative
adjective
pro·voc·a·tive
prə-ˈväk-ət-iv
: serving or tending to provoke
provocative comments
provocatively
adverb
provocativeness
noun
Medical Definition
provocative
adjective
pro·voc·a·tive
prə-ˈväk-ət-iv
: serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate
provocative test for coronary spasm—The Journal of the American Medical Association
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