How to use provocative in a sentence

Examples of provocative by meaning

More sentences with provocative

• Drawing the rhetorical distinction between the "people like yourselves" at the overwhelmingly white rally and "those people" protesting was, needless to say, a provocative framing of the issue.From the entry those people
• They are being deliberately provocative, so they can portray railway workers as 'troublesome trots'.2022 June 15, Christian Wolmar, “What do the railways need and how can we fulfil that need?”, in RAIL, number 959, page 45. From the entry troublesome
• But Martin’s increasingly provocative ideas throw a wrench in Elena’s dreams of a happily-ever-after.2020 October 13, Beatrice Loayza, “Jack London gets an Italian makeover in the tragic and romantic Martin Eden”, in The A.V. Club…. From the entry happily ever after
• An impressionistic and lighthearted rendering of a clever, mildly provocative idea.2016 March 24, Leon Neyfakh, “In Defense of the Trend Piece”, in Slate, →ISSN. From the entry trend piece
• In his provocative essay, David Gibbs makes the following statement about diplomacy and the war in Bosnia.2015, Various Authors, “Responses to David N. Gibbs Article by John Theis, Scott Laderman, Jean Bricmont, Latha V Laderman, Jean Bricmont…. From the entry Bosnian
• The band was really wailing as we quickly made our dance moves in a most provocative manner.2012, Robert Lewis Barrett, A Portrait of the First Born As a Child, page 377. From the entry wail
• The unabashed ultracrepidarianism evident in most mainstream philosophers' use and abuse of "postmodernism" is itself provocative.2011, Iain D. Thomson, Heidegger, Art, and Postmodernity, Cambridge University Press (2011), page 214 (footnote). From the entry ultracrepidarianism
• However, the new is not radical or provocative or obscene a priori.2009, Ingrid Loschek, “When is Creativity?”, in Lucinda Rennison, transl., When Clothes become Fashion: Design and Innovation Systems…. From the entry obscene
• She is made to look too schoolgirlish here to be really provocative.1996, Carol Becker, Zones of Contention, page 129. From the entry schoolgirlish
• Thus, through his habit of speaking equivocally, he can disavow responsibility for his frequently provocative words.1969 September, Charles A. Watkins, “Chaucer’s Sweete Preest”, in Earl R. Wasserman et al., editors, ELH [English Literary History]…. From the entry deception
• Else whatever is being said by Sana here is not only stupid, misleading; but also provocative n dangerous!2020 June 28, @beingrachit_, Twitter, archived from the original on 10 Jan 2024. From the entry tht
• Sarah raised a provocative eyebrow and leaned forward.2020, M./Megan Milks, “The Strands”, in Foglifter, volume 4, number 2, page 11. From the entry Quincest
• French security forces fired tear gas and flash-balls after a march through picturesque central Paris went from peaceful to provocative.2019 January 5, “France: Year’s 1st yellow vest event brings tear gas, fires”, in AP. From the entry flash-ball
• So-called shockvertising, in the form of ads that are deliberately provocative to draw attention to themselves, is becoming increasingly popular.2007 March 14, Stuart Elliott, “Critics to Marketers: Suicide Is No Joke”, in New York Times. From the entry shockvertising
• After making this provocative link, Barton spends the rest of his chapter enumerating the differences between Shakespeare's and Ireland's respective fairydoms.2004, Aleph: UCLA Undergraduate Research Journal, page 79. From the entry fairydom
• The complex but fundamental relationship between language and graphism is one of the more provocative recognitions of Gesture and Speech.1993, Randall White, Gesture and Speech, Introduction, page xix. From the entry graphism
• Stronge suggests a daily routine for post-work citizens that would include a provocative degree of state involvement: “You get your UBI payment from the government.2018 January 19, Andy Beckett, “Post-work: the radical idea of a world without jobs”, in The Guardian. From the entry UBI
• From the author's experience, provocative gonioscopy and channelography are useful to determine the overall status of the individual case before surgical intervention.2012, P. Bettin, Glaucoma Surgery, page 111. From the entry channelography
• Gone was the gleam of desire, and the teasingly provocative remarks, and Alexa realised the truth in the saying that indifference was death.2009, Sharon Kendrick, The Desert Princes Bundle: The Sheikh's English Bride. From the entry icy
• Others are timelessly provocative; the stacked tubes of “Museum Design Based on a Cigarette Package” might have been dreamed up by a starchitect.2009 May 8, Karen Rosenberg, “A Low-Cost Show Reinflates a Big Bag”, in New York Times. From the entry starchitect
• The overheard snippets of real feeling intermingled with poseur typecasting and provocative grandeur made Jayson feel that he could actually write this poem.2006, Francis Raven, Inverted Curvatures: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Spuyten Duyvil, →ISBN, page 87. From the entry languagey
• It was much less provocative and with much less coat trailing than the way in which it was introduced in another place.1986, The Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).: House of Lords official report, page 405. From the entry coat trailing
• We live in an increasingly assaultive and noisy environment, and one may obtain the clearest histories of the provocative effects of this in some migraineurs.1985, Oliver Sacks, chapter 8, in Migraine: Understanding a Common Disorder, London: Pan, published 1987, page 165. From the entry assaultive
• The principle is the same as in kicking the provocative boxer or using strategic weapons in response to a tactical nuclear challenge.1962, Klaus Eugen Knorr, Limited strategic war. From the entry antigame
• The press took seriously all Shaw's provocative ambiguities and clownings, and Lady Astor was identified with his most outrageous actions and statements.1961, Lucille Iremonger, And his charming lady, page 205. From the entry clowning
• It must be admitted that Challenger is provocative in the last degree, but Summerlee has an acid tongue, which makes matters worse.1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC. From the entry acid
• Hence, perhaps, the innumerability of the anecdotes anent the irrepressibility of profanity while playing the game — a game proverbially provocative of reprehensible expletives.1910, Arnold Haultain, The Mystery of Golf, The Macmillan Company, page 197. From the entry innumerability
• Each of the most provocative selections is facing criticism that they lack the expertise and experience to run the vast, specialized bureaucracies that would be under their control.2024 November 18, Stephen Collinson, “Trump doubles down on provocative Cabinet picks as their fates hang in the balance”, in CNN…. From the entry bureaucracy
• Passing over the line is seen as more provocative, because the aircraft would be on a straight course over Taiwan if they did not veer away.2022 December 26, Amy Chang Chien, Chang Che, “With Record Military Incursions, China Warns Taiwan and the U.S.”, in The New York Times…. From the entry median line
• In the last two decades, North Korea has on various occasions conducted highly provocative missile and nuclear tests and promised to turn Seoul into a sea of fire.2013 April 9, Andrei Lankov, “Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff.”, in New York Times. From the entry sea
• For 15 years, BP served as Canada's premier newsmagazine, offering provocative liberation politics and sophisticated coverage to the lesbian and gay community, both nationally and internationally.1986 February 15, Elizabeth Pincus, “The Passing of Canada's Body Politic”, in Gay Community News, volume 14, number 39, page 3. From the entry news magazine
• Gorer's most provocative interpretations grow out of his "swaddling hypothesis" — his original theory that the Russian practice of tightly swaddling infants has certain lasting and pronounced emotional consequences.1950 November, “The People of Great Russia: A Psychological Study”, in The Atlantic, volume 186, number 5. From the entry swaddling hypothesis
• If books are as provocative as you suggest, one would expect every librarian to utter the shrill screams of a hierophant, to clash ecstatic castanets in his silent alcoves!1919, Christopher Morley, “(please specify the page)”, in The Haunted Bookshop, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, →OCLC. From the entry hierophant
• Fernández's diplomatic broadside follows the British government's decision last month to name a large frozen chunk of Antarctica after the Queen – a gesture viewed in Buenos Aires as provocative.2013 January 3, Luke Harding, Uki Goni, The Guardian. From the entry broadside
• LaBute’s plays are, in fact, so provocative that some past audience members have walked out midplay or screamed out “kill the playwright” or slapped an actor’s face after a performance.2009 March 29, Pat Jordan, “Neil LaBute Has a Thing About Beauty”, in New York Times. From the entry midplay
• While National Geographic's translation supported the provocative interpretation of Judas as a hero, a more careful reading makes clear that Judas is not only no hero, he is a demon.2007 December 2, April D. DeConick, “What the Gospel of Judas really says”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the…. From the entry retranslate

Meaning of provocative

1. adjective Serving or tending to elicit a strong, often negative sentiment in another person; exasperating.
2. adjective Serving or tending to excite, stimulate or arouse sexual interest; sexy.
3. adjective Provoking or triggering any response.

Full definition of provocative

More about provocative

• Meaning of provocative
• Provocative in Hindi
• Provocative in Tamil
• Provocative in Bengali
• Provocative in Malayalam

Questions about provocative in a sentence

How do you use provocative in a sentence?

Provocative is used as an adjective and noun. For example: “In Turkey, Iran, and Syria salep is popular as a restorative and also as a provocative to amatory activity.”

What is a short sentence with provocative?

“Sarah raised a provocative eyebrow and leaned forward.”

What does provocative mean?

Provocative means serving or tending to elicit a strong, often negative sentiment in another person; exasperating.