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
And as is true in all fights against cowardly, bullying, thin-skinned autocrats, our weakness was provocative.
—
Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
His provocative poem revolved around a cycle of bloodshed and called out Israel’s prime minister.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
All of those points, both separately and in tandem, can be (and have been) debunked on scientific grounds, but the initial reporting — as well as a substantial amount of follow-up reporting — focused on the provocative claims, not the scientific merits (or lack thereof) of the research.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 19 Sep. 2025
Consciousness And Reality Chopra's most provocative insight concerns the nature of reality itself.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
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Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
His provocative poem revolved around a cycle of bloodshed and called out Israel’s prime minister.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
All of those points, both separately and in tandem, can be (and have been) debunked on scientific grounds, but the initial reporting — as well as a substantial amount of follow-up reporting — focused on the provocative claims, not the scientific merits (or lack thereof) of the research.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 19 Sep. 2025
Consciousness And Reality Chopra's most provocative insight concerns the nature of reality itself.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
Cite this Entry
“Provocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provocative. Accessed 21 Sep. 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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