provocative

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.

Police said most people behaved peacefully but they saw "provocative conduct and the heavy use of pyrotechnics and fireworks - despite various warnings being issued against this".

From BBC • Apr. 4, 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

Heavily metaphoric and less intimately provocative than the French writer-director’s previous movies, “Alpha” is a domestic drama that may not necessarily be set at the end of the world.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Franz Rosenzweig started his most provocative work of philosophy in the trenches of World War I.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

If anything, they encouraged Alice Paul and her allies to stage more provocative protests that attracted larger crowds and led to more arrests.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling