thought-provoking

[thawt-pruh-voh-king]

adjective

1. causing one to ponder or reflect, as by raising questions or issues, introducing new ideas, etc..

   The theater company has gained a reputation for high-quality performances that are both thought-provoking and entertaining.

Other Word Forms

• thought-provokingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of thought-provoking¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Put simply, it feels like a classic “Alien” movie for the right reasons while lacking the thought-provoking and soulful weight of the best of them.

From Salon

The study, he said, was small and meant to be thought-provoking and encourage further research, not to support sweeping conclusions.

From Los Angeles Times

During the summer of 2023, my sister and I were watching “The Good Place,” a comedic, yet thought-provoking show about what happens when we die and where the stores only serve one thing: frozen yogurt.

From Salon

But it was in fact a breeding ground of artistic ferment, in which creatives grappled with what Elie calls crypto-religion, that “liminal space between belief and disbelief” that produced a wealth of thought-provoking popular art.

From Los Angeles Times

By plopping modern medicine on the exam table, O’Sullivan offers a thought-provoking challenge to our common assumptions about the importance of early and accurate diagnosis.

From Salon

Related Words

• absorbing 
• captivating 
• exciting 
• fascinating 
• gripping 
• inspirational 
• interesting 
• intriguing www.thesaurus.com
• provocative 
• riveting