provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌprä-və-ˈkā-shən 
1
: the act of provoking : incitement
2
: something that provokes, arouses, or stimulates
Examples of provocation in a Sentence
He can turn violent at the least provocation.
Her calmness in the face of repeated provocations impressed her friends.
With hardly any provocation, the crowd began to chant.
Recent Examples on the Web
He is accused of using the knives to then stab his victims at random and without provocation, before fleeing the scene, police said.
—
Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 19 Dec. 2024
Recommended Joy Five years after fire, a shining Notre Dame is ready to reopen its doors
Mr. Han, the acting leader, ordered the military to bolster its security posture to prevent North Korea from launching provocations by miscalculation.
—Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Dec. 2024
This is a premeditated provocation, and I’m supposed to think Angie is the mean one?
—Sarah Hagi, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
So, expect provocations, false-flag outrages, high-profile kidnappings of westerners and much else.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for provocation 
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Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 19 Dec. 2024
Recommended Joy Five years after fire, a shining Notre Dame is ready to reopen its doors
Mr. Han, the acting leader, ordered the military to bolster its security posture to prevent North Korea from launching provocations by miscalculation.
—Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Dec. 2024
This is a premeditated provocation, and I’m supposed to think Angie is the mean one?
—Sarah Hagi, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
So, expect provocations, false-flag outrages, high-profile kidnappings of westerners and much else.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for provocation
Dictionary Entries Near provocation
Cite this Entry
“Provocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provocation. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌpräv-ə-ˈkā-shən
1
: the act of provoking
2
: something that provokes
Medical Definition
provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌpräv-ə-ˈkā-shən
: the act or process of provoking
a nonspecific irritant that brings about provocation of bronchial asthma
Legal Definition
provocation
noun
prov·o·ca·tion
ˌprä-və-ˈkā-shən
1
: the act of provoking
2
: something that provokes, arouses, or stimulates
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