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Synonyms

provocative

American  
[pruh-vok-uh-tiv] / prəˈvɒk ə tɪv /

adjective

  1. tending or serving to provoke; inciting, stimulating, irritating, or vexing.

noun

  1. something provocative.

provocative British  
/ prəˈvɒkətɪv /

adjective

  1. acting as a stimulus or incitement, esp to anger or sexual desire; provoking

    a provocative look

    a provocative remark
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • half-provocative adjective
  • nonprovocative adjective
  • nonprovocatively adverb
  • nonprovocativeness noun
  • provocatively adverb
  • provocativeness noun
  • quasi-provocative adjective
  • quasi-provocatively adverb
  • unprovocative adjective
  • unprovocatively adverb
  • unprovocativeness noun

Etymology

Origin of provocative

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Late Latin word prōvocātīvus. See provocation, -ive

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.

The rule states that there should be no behaviour that is "improper, offensive, violent, threatening, abusive, indecent, insulting or provocative".

From BBC

The creator, who uses the online handle RadialB, says he didn't expect to spawn copycats or be politically provocative.

From BBC

Mohammadi was arrested in December for making "provocative remarks" at a memorial ceremony, Iranian authorities said at the time.

From BBC

It makes sense, then, that one of the season’s most provocative movies is a workplace revenge fantasy.

From The Wall Street Journal

When asked about the provocative nature of the film, Robbie said she thought people "might be a little surprised" by how emotional it actually is.

From BBC

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.