1
as in excitement
something that arouses a strong response from another
a patient man who gets angry only from the greatest of provocations
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in incentive
something that arouses action or activity
ready to retaliate at the slightest provocation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provocation
For many designers involved in the movement, Brutalist architecture was not meant as a provocation.
—
Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 14 Jan. 2025
To that end, some of the best answers to Trump’s provocations can be found in two major reports published last year.
—Erik Jones, Foreign Affairs, 13 Jan. 2025
That has allowed Charlie Hebdo to skirt legal infractions and continue to anchor its content on religious provocation.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Jan. 2025
Through bellicose rhetoric and impulsive actions, Washington might provoke crises similar to that which followed the 2022 visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the House, when China responded to U.S. provocation by stepping up its military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait.
—Yan Xuetong, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for provocation 
Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 14 Jan. 2025
To that end, some of the best answers to Trump’s provocations can be found in two major reports published last year.
—Erik Jones, Foreign Affairs, 13 Jan. 2025
That has allowed Charlie Hebdo to skirt legal infractions and continue to anchor its content on religious provocation.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Jan. 2025
Through bellicose rhetoric and impulsive actions, Washington might provoke crises similar to that which followed the 2022 visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the House, when China responded to U.S. provocation by stepping up its military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait.
—Yan Xuetong, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for provocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocation
Noun
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This pedestrian firm, headquartered in the flyover state of Wisconsin, lacks the excitement of Silicon Valley outfits reinventing money.—
Hank Tucker,
Forbes,
10 Feb. 2025
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Who took the penalty shot, and the excitement of a crowd that has seen a lot of garbage time over the last four years and still found the energy to stand up and cheer that moment, both things have meaning.—
Arpon Basu,
The Athletic,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The group has proposed uncapping the tax incentive for productions that shoot in LA County for the next three years as part of the overall disaster relief effort as well as calling on the studios and streamers to pledge at least 10% more production in LA over the next three years.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2025
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The consumption slump, worsened by weak consumer and business confidence and the near collapse of the property sector, has prompted Beijing to loosen its monetary policy and pursue various forms of stimulus, including pay increases in for civil servants and tax incentives for property purchases.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Perhaps most intriguingly, these principles are even being applied to the field of robotics, with researchers developing tiny mobile robots that can respond to environmental stimuli in ways inspired by natural mechanisms.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
6 Feb. 2025
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As consumers returned to dining out, traveling and other services, many fast-food cashiers, front-desk clerks and hair stylists were leery of coming back to in-person jobs and living off generous government stimulus checks and other aid, Hershbein said.—
Paul Davidson,
USA TODAY,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Amidst all the talk in Washington about tax reform, it’s lost to most Americans what is the principal impetus behind it.—
Ryan Ellis,
National Review,
31 Jan. 2025
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The thing is that a lot of the impetus for this was misinformation around the 2016 presidential election, like the fake news that the Pope had endorsed Donald Trump or conspiracy theories around Hillary Clinton.—
Lauren Goode,
WIRED,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Throughout this period, my pets were and still are my greatest source of encouragement.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2025
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The comments on Moore's birthday post for Tallulah were full of encouragement and compliments for Demi and Bruce.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Mahomes' opponent, the Eagles, will also have some motivation.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
9 Feb. 2025
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Some of her motivation comes from personal experiences as a caregiver and helping family members keep track of their medications – which can get complicated.—
Michael Merschel/ American Heart Association News,
Boston Herald,
9 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near provocation
Cite this Entry
“Provocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocation. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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