provocation
Americannoun
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the act of provoking.
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something that incites, instigates, angers, or irritates.
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Criminal Law. words or conduct leading to killing in hot passion and without deliberation.
noun
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the act of provoking or inciting
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something that causes indignation, anger, etc
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English criminal law words or conduct that incite a person to attack another
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of provocation
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin prōvocātiōn- (stem of prōvocātiō ) a calling forth, equivalent to prōvocāt ( us ) (past participle of prōvocāre to provoke; see -ate 1) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A provocation makes someone angry or sometimes even violent. Telling a professional boxer how ugly he is would be considered a provocation — one that might get you punched in the face. Provocation is the act of provoking someone — doing something just to get a reaction. During election season, opponents sometimes use provocation to try to ruin one another's reputation. However, sometimes it backfires and the one doing the provoking, looking like a bully, loses votes. Some celebrities whose stars are fading use provocation like making scandalous statements to try to keep their names in the headlines.
Vocabulary lists containing provocation
"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr.
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The Call of the Wild
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This Week in Words: September 10 - 16, 2017
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Earlier prestige dramas also enjoyed a common coming of age somewhat before what I'll call the Age of Provocation, defined by short attention spans and fiery sentiment churned by the whitewater rush of social media.
From Salon • Apr. 18, 2022
Provocation was a risk worth running, but a real risk:
From Washington Post • Aug. 10, 2018
Provocation aside, von Notz had a larger point to make about the way nationalist movements exploit popular culture.
From The New Yorker • Feb. 18, 2017
But look: I mean McLaren's brilliant at the Theatre of Provocation, didn't he set all this up?
From The Guardian • May 29, 2012
Provocation like this was rarely addressed to Sir Giles; and the choler occasioned by it was increased by the laughter and cheers of the company.
From The Star-Chamber, Volume 1 An Historical Romance by Ainsworth, William Harrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
