provocation
gb/pɹˌɑvəkˈeɪʃən/ us/pɹˌɑvəkˈeɪʃən/
B2
English
~ 9900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
action
1
an act meant to anger someone
something that someone does or says on purpose to make another person angry or upset, often so they will react.
Usage pattern:
a provocation to [someone] / a provocation for [reaction]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "provocation" with "motivation". "Provocation" is usually negative and about making someone angry or upset, while "motivation" is about giving someone a reason or desire to do something, often positive. Do not say *"He gave me provocation to study"* when you mean *"He gave me motivation to study"*.
Synonyms
incitement (often slightly more formal and can suggest stirring up any strong reaction, not just anger.)
|
goading (informal and vivid; suggests persistent teasing or pushing someone until they react.)
Antonyms
calming (describes speech or actions that reduce anger instead of causing it.)
Collocations
deliberate provocation
|act of provocation
|constant provocation
|verbal provocation
|respond to provocation
|rise to the provocation
Themes
emotions
|conflict
|social
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- His comment was a clear provocation, designed to make her lose her temper in front of everyone.
- The crowd ignored the provocation from the protesters and walked away in silence.
- She refused to respond to his provocation, knowing he only wanted to start a fight.
- Online trolls often post offensive jokes as a form of provocation.
- The referee warned both players after repeated provocation on the field.
Learner examples
- His words were a provocation, and they made her very angry.
- The boy shouted at the dog as a provocation to make it bark.
- She tried to stay calm and not react to the provocation.
- That joke felt like a provocation, not friendly talk.
- He used rude language as a provocation to start an argument.
Noun
C1
action
2
hostile act likely to trigger conflict
a hostile action, often by one group or country, that is likely to make another group or country answer back or fight.
Usage pattern:
a provocation against [group/country]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "provocation" here when "attack" alone is more natural. "Provocation" suggests an action meant to trigger a response, not just any violent act. In headlines like "border provocation", the idea of trying to provoke a response is important.
Synonyms
provocative act (almost identical in meaning, but a slightly more descriptive phrase; often used in news reports.)
|
hostile act (focuses more on the aggression itself and less on the intention to trigger a response.)
Antonyms
conciliatory gesture (an action intended to ease tension and avoid conflict, the opposite of a provocation in this context.)
Collocations
an act of provocation
|a military provocation
|clear provocation
|border provocation
|seen as a provocation
Themes
politics
|military
|conflict
|law
Examples
- The missile test was widely condemned as a provocation against neighboring countries.
- They called the airspace violation a deliberate provocation that could not be ignored.
- Sending warships into the disputed waters was viewed as an unnecessary provocation.
- The government insisted the exercise was routine and not a provocation.
- Any further provocation along the border could lead to open conflict.
Learner examples
- The attack on the ship was a provocation and raised fears of war.
- The new sanctions were seen as a provocation by the other country.
- Flying fighter jets so close to the border was a clear provocation.
- They warned that any provocation would be answered with force.
- Leaders on both sides tried to avoid provocation and calm the situation.
Noun
C1
action
3
action meant to cause sexual arousal
the way a person acts, speaks, or dresses on purpose to make someone feel sexual desire.
Usage pattern:
sexual provocation from [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may use "provocation" where "attraction" or "appeal" is more natural. "Provocation" suggests an active, sometimes risky attempt to cause desire, not just being good-looking.
Synonyms
teasing (informal; can suggest playful or light sexual behavior, not always serious or intentional.)
|
seduction (stronger; usually suggests a planned attempt to lead someone into a sexual relationship, not just arousal.)
Antonyms
modesty (describes behavior and appearance that avoid sexual attention rather than attracting it.)
Collocations
sexual provocation
|subtle provocation
|deliberate provocation
|a look of provocation
|gesture of provocation
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|social
|health
Examples
- The advertisement was criticized for using sexual provocation to sell a simple product.
- Her performance mixed humor with a hint of provocation, keeping the audience slightly uncomfortable.
- The designer is known for clothes that play with the line between elegance and provocation.
- He complained that the scene relied too heavily on provocation instead of character development.
- Some viewers saw the photo shoot as artistic, while others thought it was mere provocation.
Learner examples
- The movie uses a lot of sexual provocation to get attention.
- Her smile had a little provocation in it.
- The singer’s dance was full of provocation and shocked some people.
- The ad was removed because of its strong provocation.
- They said the show had too much provocation and not enough story.
Noun
C1
entity
4
stimulus that provokes thought or debate
something that makes people think, talk, or create by challenging their ideas or feelings.
Usage pattern:
a provocation for [discussion/change]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "provocation" always involves anger. In this sense, it can be positive or neutral, about pushing people to think more deeply, not necessarily making them angry.
Synonyms
stimulus (more general and neutral; does not always suggest challenge or discomfort.)
|
catalyst (often used when something speeds up or starts change, not just thought.)
Antonyms
comfort (in this context, something that reassures and does not challenge beliefs or thinking.)
Collocations
a provocation for debate
|intellectual provocation
|artistic provocation
|a welcome provocation
|a provocation to think
Themes
art
|ideas
|education
|communication
Examples
- The exhibition is meant as a provocation, forcing visitors to reconsider their ideas about privacy.
- Her book is a thoughtful provocation rather than a simple attack on tradition.
- The teacher used the shocking photo as a provocation for discussion in class.
- Good journalism can be a healthy provocation, pushing society to face hard truths.
- The speech served as a provocation to rethink how we use technology.
Learner examples
- The play was a provocation that made people think about climate change.
- His question was a provocation and started a long discussion.
- The film was not just fun; it was a provocation to change our habits.
- The artist said the painting was a provocation, not a simple picture.
- Her article was a provocation for new ideas in the company.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
5
legal concept reducing blame for a crime
in legal language, things that another person does or says that make someone suddenly lose control, which a court may use to reduce their blame for a crime.
Usage pattern:
to act under provocation
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "provocation" always excuses a crime. In law, it usually only reduces, not removes, responsibility, and rules differ between countries.
Synonyms
mitigating factor (broader legal term for anything that can reduce punishment, not only loss of self-control.)
Antonyms
premeditation (planning a crime in advance, the opposite of acting suddenly because of provocation.)
Collocations
act under provocation
|mitigating provocation
|sufficient provocation
|gross provocation
|provocation as a defence
Themes
law
|crime
Examples
- The jury had to decide whether the insult amounted to sufficient provocation.
- The judge accepted that he acted under extreme provocation and reduced the sentence.
- Her lawyers argued that long-term abuse should be considered a form of provocation.
- In some legal systems, provocation can reduce a charge from murder to manslaughter.
- The court ruled that there was no provocation that could justify the violent response.
Learner examples
- The man said he hit his neighbor under strong provocation.
- The lawyer tried to show that the crime happened after heavy provocation.
- In that country, provocation can change the crime from murder to a lesser crime.
- The judge said there was not enough provocation to excuse his actions.
- The law on provocation is different in each country.
Grammar
Dictionary form
provocation
IPA
GB/pɹˌɑvəkˈeɪʃən/
US/pɹˌɑvəkˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
pro - voca - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (tion)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: provocation
- Plural: provocation, provocations
Word family
Forms
provocations
noun
Core family
provoke
verb B2
provocative
adjective B2
Related words
provocatively
adverb C1
Negative and opposite forms
unprovoked
adjective
Advanced or less common
provocateur
noun
Expressions
act of provocation
1/ˈækt əv pɹˌɑvəkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
a single deliberate provoking act
a specific thing that someone does on purpose to make another person or group react strongly, often in anger.
Examples
- The burning of the flag was seen as an act of provocation.
- Sending troops to the area was clearly an act of provocation.
- The rude email was not a mistake; it was an act of provocation.
as a provocation
1/ˈæz ə pɹˌɑvəkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
with the aim of provoking
used to explain that something was done mainly to make people angry, shocked, or strongly interested, so they would react.
Examples
- She shaved her head as a provocation to conservative voters.
- The artist painted the scene as a provocation, not as a realistic picture.
- He used that word as a provocation to start a serious discussion.
under provocation
1/ˈʌndɚ pɹˌɑvəkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
while reacting to provocation
when someone acts because another person has strongly provoked them, often used to explain bad behavior or a crime.
Examples
- The teacher admitted she shouted, but said she was under provocation from a group of rude students.
- The court heard that he struck his brother under severe provocation.
- People often say hurtful things under provocation that they later regret.
without provocation
1/wɪðˈaʊt pɹˌɑvəkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
for no apparent reason or trigger
used to say that someone acted, often violently or rudely, even though nobody did anything to make them angry or upset first.
Examples
- Witnesses said the police hit the man without provocation.
- He began shouting at the waiter without provocation.
- The dog attacked the cyclist without provocation, according to neighbors.