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
The provocative name helps drive those velocities, making shoppers do a double-take when browsing for ice cream.
—
Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
The deepest and most provocative questions relate to why most people’s earliest memories are from age four to five (or later) if memories are being stored in their brain by age one.
—Nick Turk-Browne, Scientific American, 28 July 2025
His rhetoric is provocative, but slippery enough to avoid outright extremism.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
The former wunderkind firebrand is best known for making statements considered by some to be intentionally provocative.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocative
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Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
The deepest and most provocative questions relate to why most people’s earliest memories are from age four to five (or later) if memories are being stored in their brain by age one.
—Nick Turk-Browne, Scientific American, 28 July 2025
His rhetoric is provocative, but slippery enough to avoid outright extremism.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
The former wunderkind firebrand is best known for making statements considered by some to be intentionally provocative.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 24 July 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 5 Aug. 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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