as in exciting
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction
a provocative editorial that sparked a heated discussion
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provocative
Sign up for the Race/Related Newsletter Join a deep and provocative exploration of race, identity and society with New York Times journalists.
—
Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
Wooden Horse was founded in 2019 by industry veterans Troy and Finlayson and has since developed a reputation for distinctive, provocative and bold storytelling.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025
Finding negative angles about the club seems often to be a sport in itself, particularly among provocative ex-player pundits for whom criticism is currency.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
Lawyers for both sides have made provocative comments, divulged private communications and made public a slew of documents while defending their clients.
—Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
Wooden Horse was founded in 2019 by industry veterans Troy and Finlayson and has since developed a reputation for distinctive, provocative and bold storytelling.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025
Finding negative angles about the club seems often to be a sport in itself, particularly among provocative ex-player pundits for whom criticism is currency.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
Lawyers for both sides have made provocative comments, divulged private communications and made public a slew of documents while defending their clients.
—Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocative
Adjective
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Her choice of Bose earphones, though, hint at something exciting to come.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2025
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These moments can be exciting, ratcheting up the tension of an encounter as natural forces and world physics impact the flow of the game.—
Josh Broadwell,
Rolling Stone,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Of course, genocide is a charged and redolent term, recalling the systematic precision of the Holocaust and the society-wide butchery of the Rwandan genocide.—
Kristina Hook,
Foreign Affairs,
28 July 2022
Adjective
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Venture Colonialism There is arguably no single scholar more well versed, incisive, and thought provoking than Stern in analyzing the evolution of joint-stock corporations in the British Empire.—
Caroline Elkins,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Aug. 2023
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Her work is technically amazing, thought provoking and has tons of heart.—
Heide Janssen,
Orange County Register,
17 Mar. 2024
Adjective
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Keep them engaged with cat trees, puzzle feeders, or other stimulating activities.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
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But at the time, the theory that providing children with stimulating activities would help them more than rote learning and academic drills was revolutionary.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The edgy location complemented the outerwear on show.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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The Italian fashion house lends its edgy branding to a line of phone, laptop and tablet cases, as well as phone stands, wireless chargers, power banks and cardholders.—
Hannah Malach,
WWD,
18 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to provocative
Cite this Entry
“Provocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocative. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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