The meaning of PROVOCATIVE is serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate. How to use provocative in a sentence.

provocative adjective (MAKE ANGRY) causing an angry reaction, usually intentionally: a provocative question / remark

Definition of provocative adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

If you describe something as provocative, you mean that it is intended to make people react angrily or argue against it. He has made a string of outspoken and sometimes provocative speeches in recent …

acting as a stimulus or incitement, esp to anger or sexual desire; provoking: a provocative look; a provocative remark.

Dec 11, 2025 · provocative (comparative more provocative, superlative most provocative) Serving or tending to excite, stimulate or arouse sexual interest; sexy. [I]t is a terrible long and slippery descent, …

If something is provocative, it provokes a reaction. A provocative book might get people talking about a controversial idea. A provocative statement, such as "I hate babies," will get another kind of reaction.

PROVOCATIVE definition: tending or serving to provoke; inciting, stimulating, irritating, or vexing. See examples of provocative used in a sentence.

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the word provocative, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

PROVOCATIVE meaning: 1 : causing discussion, thought, argument, etc.; 2 : causing sexual feelings or excitement sexy