provocative
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
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.
It was an era of undeniable stardom — of pop being unafraid to be provocative and risky.
From Los Angeles Times
Even so, Hawley’s stellar adaptation of a decades-old blockbuster conceit proves that the right take on a classic movie monster can yield provocative storytelling.
From Salon
So it’s with at least a certain bit of skepticism to present this take from Louis-Vincent Gave, the founding partner and CEO of Gavekal Research, the Hong Kong firm known for its provocative research.
From MarketWatch
She says she hasn’t found certain audiences more or less receptive to her work in different geographic regions or that her material has been too provocative.
From Los Angeles Times
There was no comment from Iranian authorities, but they have said she was detained for making "provocative remarks" at a memorial ceremony in the city of Mashhad on Friday.
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.
