provocative

Thân thiện

Her provocative remark sparked a lively debate in the classroom.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Causing sexual desire or interest: Tending to arouse sexual feelings or thoughts.
   • Causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction, especially deliberately: Intended to provoke, stimulate, or excite thought, discussion, or controversy.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • She wore a provocative dress to the party. (This describes clothing intended to attract sexual attention.)
  • The journalist asked a provocative question that sparked a heated debate. (This describes a question intended to stimulate strong reaction or discussion.)
  • His essay was deliberately provocative, challenging widely held beliefs. (This describes writing intended to excite controversy or thought.)

Advanced Usage

• "Provocative of": (Formal) Serving to cause or bring about a particular feeling or reaction.
  • Actions provocative of violence will not be tolerated. (Actions likely to cause violence will not be tolerated.)

Variants and Related Words

• Provoke (verb): To stimulate or incite (a person) to a feeling or action; to cause (a reaction).
• Provocation (noun): Action or speech that makes someone annoyed or angry, especially deliberately.
• Provocatively (adverb): In a provocative manner.
  • She smiled provocatively.

Synonyms

• Inflammatory: Tending to arouse anger or hostility.
• Suggestive: Tending to suggest something, especially something indecent or sexual.
• Challenging: Inviting competition or disagreement; stimulating interest or thought.
• Incendiary: Tending to stir up conflict or strife.

Antonyms

• Unprovocative: Not provocative.
• Soothing: Tending to calm or pacify.
• Conciliatory: Intended or likely to placate or pacify.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• A provocative act: An action deliberately intended to provoke a response.
  • Throwing the object over the fence was seen as a provocative act.
• To be in a provocative mood: To be feeling deliberately challenging or teasing.
  • Be careful what you say; he's in a provocative mood today.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. exciting sexual desire
   • her gestures and postures became more wanton and provocative
2. serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate; stimulating discussion or exciting controversy
   • a provocative remark
   • a provocative smile
   • provocative Irish tunes which...compel the hearers to dance- Anthony Trollope