provocative Hear it!

provocative Definition

pro·voca·tive (prə väkə tiv, prō-)

adjective

provoking or tending to provoke, as to action, thought, feeling, etc.; stimulating, erotic, irritating, etc.

Etymology: ME prouocatyue, aphrodisiac < LL provocativus < L provocare: see provoke

noun

something that provokes

provocative Related Forms
pro·voca·tively adverb pro·voca·tive·ness noun
provocative Synonyms

provocative

modif.

alluring, arousing, intriguing; see interesting, stimulating.

provocative Usage Examples

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • do: Noone wore masks or did anything provocative at the police present.
  • want: They want someone provocative who is weird and strange and controversial.

Modifies a noun

  • remark: Even in face of Joan's deliberately provocative remarks, Bea manages to hold her tongue.
  • thriller: A dark, provocative, psychological thriller; David Slade is a clearly a talent to watch.
  • stance: He also takes a provocative stance by questioning much of the accepted wisdom of marketing.
  • thinker: However, he was an intensely interesting, yet provocative thinker.
  • gesture: It was also noted that there had been reports of a provocative gesture by Hall.
  • commentary: A significant body of scholarship has grown in the field, providing a rich and provocative commentary upon a diverse range of subjects.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: The design of the Dyson CR01 range of washing machines seems deliberately provocative.
  • see: John McDonnell said that Prescott's action would be seen as provocative.
  • look: It does not really make sense; given CESA's history, it just looks provocative.

Infinitive complement

  • say: Possibly posed, but provocative to say the least, as was so much of Brando's dramatically rebellious life!

Modifying Another Word

  • deliberately: Next bit of preamble Well my deliberately provocative preamble got a bit of a response, which isn't bad for a Sunday.
  • profoundly: Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative.
  • sexually: Don't engage in or allow any sexually provocative games involving or observed by children, whether based on talking or touching.
  • intentionally: Invited speakers will give their response to this intentionally provocative question, followed by an open discussion.
  • emotionally: Her highly theatrical piece explored the familiar topic of love in an original way which audience members found extremely moving and emotionally provocative.
  • highly: Following the first highly provocative imports of American GM soya, there had been little time for public debate.

Preposition: in

  • way: A: I'm looking for movies that are actually about something, that are questioning something, that are provocative in some way.
  • sense: It is meant to be suggestive, even " provocative in the best sense.

Browse dictionary entries near provocative

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