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.

There’s a difference between making something provocative and outright, intentional provocation.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

“I understand that the U.S. doesn’t want to be provocative in this region,” said Chen Ming-chi, Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister, characterizing Trump’s strategy as saying less and doing more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Over the years, the group have faced criticism for their provocative lyrics and merchandise.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 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

More work on this provocative thesis is clearly needed.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan