provocative

[ pruh-vok-uh-tiv ]

adjective

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

noun

1. something provocative.

provocative

/ prəˈvɒkətɪv /

adjective

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

   a provocative remark

   a provocative look

Derived Forms

• proˈvocatively, adverb
• proˈvocativeness, noun

Other Words From

• pro·voca·tive·ly adverb
• pro·voca·tive·ness noun
• half-pro·voca·tive adjective
• nonpro·voca·tive adjective
• nonpro·voca·tive·ly adverb
• nonpro·voca·tive·ness noun
• quasi-pro·voca·tive adjective
• quasi-pro·voca·tive·ly adverb
• unpro·voca·tive adjective
• unpro·voca·tive·ly adverb
• unpro·voca·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of provocative¹

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

Example Sentences

They found him intellectually engaging, admired his provocative curiosity and became his friends.

From Salon

Yet a pair of recent studies about comb jellies raise provocative questions about Descartes’ maxim.

From Salon

Seattle Times’ late disabled critic Jeff Shannon described Timmy as the most “progressive, provocative and socially relevant disability humour ever presented on American television”.

From BBC

The two nations have closely integrated supply chains that, experts say, could put a brake on Trump’s provocative tariff plans.

From Los Angeles Times

In fact, a few months into his Senate run, in February 2022, surveys of the GOP primary showed Vance polling in the single digits, trailing both businessman Mike Gibbons and Joshua Mandel, a onetime moderate who’d become an early imitator of Trump’s provocative style.

From Slate

Related Words

• challenging
• disturbing
• exciting
• inspirational
• insulting
• offensive
• outrageous