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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.

In 1963 Mitford published “The American Way of Death,” an exposé of the funeral industry that turned her into a stateside celebrity, welcomed as a provocative guest on talk shows and recognized by cab drivers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The first time “Buffy” ended, Gellar attempted to shake off the slayer with a slew of fascinating, genuinely provocative roles that utilized her skillset.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

Jeremy Grantham has a new and provocative argument for why the U.S. stock market will produce mediocre returns this year.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 17, 2026

When Elvis Presley first shook up Las Vegas, many labeled him “un-American” for his provocative moves.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026

For all the tantalizing and provocative character of the Viking results, I know a hundred places on Mars which are far more interesting than our landing sites.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

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.