How to Use provocative in a Sentence

provocative

adjective
Definition of provocativenext
Synonyms for provocativenext
  • It was one of his more provocative suggestions.
  • She was wearing a very provocative outfit.
  • Rude wanted to show me the most provocative street art in the city.
    — Tony Perrottet, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2023
  • Cloud was beloved by fans of the provocative teen drama.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN, 1 Aug. 2023
  • And that makes this provocative but uneasy film leave a sour taste in the mouth.
    — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2023
  • Warts and all, this is a lovely, deep, provocative book.
    — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 7 June 2023
  • Some of Cracknell’s choices, in fact, make the work less provocative.
    — Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2024
  • The artist’s small paintings are as dense and provocative as his large ones — tiny worlds full of ideograms, like tarot cards.
    — Cate McQuaid, BostonGlobe.com, 9 May 2023
  • But even the provocative purveyor of $800 T-shirts isn’t immune to the cowboy myth.
    — Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2023
  • The whole point of these provocative campaigns is to show that fashion doesn’t have to be so serious.
    — Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 22 Sep. 2023
  • The authors of the provocative study make an unfortunate but true point.
    — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024
  • In both cases, the hope is to engage and test them, so that something new, and provocative, results.
    — Bill Fischer, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023
  • Nudes are one of the oldest and most stubbornly provocative tropes in Western art.
    — Julia Halperin, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
  • The lyrics were also, notably, a little provocative, too.
    — Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 27 July 2023
  • Even so, its provocative themes and images have challenged friends and allies.
    — Robert Ito, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024
  • The men’s tailoring at the women’s shows was more straightforward, and in turn less provocative.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2023
  • That makes the rest of the experience more memorable and provocative.
    — WIRED, 26 July 2023
  • Still, there’s sometimes a prankster quality to Kapoor’s more provocative work.
    — Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2023
  • Is the new adaptation adding to or revising the original text in a provocative way?
    — Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 28 Mar. 2023
  • Previously viewed as a more provocative style choice, even the sheerest of looks are now viewed through the lens of elegance.
    — Joyce Onuorah, Essence, 22 Dec. 2023
  • Maybe the critique is less provocative because of how familiar and well-established the facts are?
    — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Apr. 2023
  • To be provocative, their love story might be experienced as a trap.
    — Hazlitt, 19 July 2023
  • Now, another New York artist is making a unique and provocative exit.
    — Brian Boucher, New York Times, 26 May 2023
  • The underage actors are shown doing provocative dance steps while clothed, and there is also a brief glimpse of an adult woman’s bare breast.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 18 Dec. 2023
  • Perhaps for Jackson’s provocative mix of high-mindedness and low satire.
    — Jesse Green, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024
  • Memphis design was provocative and polarizing—and that was the point.
    — Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
  • The political artist Edel Rodriguez drew some of the most provocative images of the Trump presidency.
    — Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2023
  • But there are no signs Fox News is giving up on provocative and inflammatory viewpoints in the hour.
    — Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2023
  • Together, the provocative tatted pair lend their vocals to express the healing power of love.
    — Billboard Staff, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2023
  • But that only makes this common thesis more provocative.
    — Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 31 Jan. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'provocative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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