The meaning of Provocative

verb

Offend the modesty or values of.

Usage examples:

She was affronted by his familiarity

noun

An action or remark that causes outrage or offence.

Usage examples:

He took his son's desertion as a personal affront

adjective

Intended to arouse or provoke a strong public response to an issue in the hope of prompting political action.

Usage examples:

Even in these days of mass communication, theatre retains its agitational power

adjective

Causing irritation or annoyance.

Usage examples:

Annoying habits

verb

Make (someone) a little angry; irritate.

Usage examples:

The decision really annoyed him

adjective

Making you feel slightly angry

Usage examples:

It's really annoying when a train is late and there's no explanation., he's got a really annoying l…

verb

Evoke or awaken (a feeling, emotion, or response).

Usage examples:

Something about the man aroused the guard's suspicions

verb

Present participle of arouse

Usage examples:

It's a subject that has aroused a lot of interest., our suspicions were first aroused when we heard…

adjective

Intensely irritating and frustrating.

Usage examples:

They suffered a number of exasperating setbacks

verb

Irritate and frustrate (someone) intensely.

Usage examples:

This futile process exasperates prison officers

adjective

Annoying, especially because you can do nothing to solve a problem

Usage examples:

It's so exasperating when he won't listen to a word that i say.

adjective

Causing annoyance or resentment; annoying.

Usage examples:

It would be galling to lose your job because of a dispute with a customer

verb

Make (someone) feel annoyed or resentful.

Usage examples:

It galled him to have to sit impotently in silence

adjective

Annoying

Usage examples:

He found his reduced status galling.

verb

Provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction.

Usage examples:

He was trying to goad her into a fight

noun

A spiked stick used for driving cattle.

Usage examples:

The ripon report suggests widespread use of sticks and electric goads, and says that some animals h…

adjective

(of a device or attack) designed to cause fires.

Usage examples:

Incendiary bombs

noun

An incendiary bomb or device.

Usage examples:

The holy city was blasted by incendiaries

adjective

Designed to cause fires

Usage examples:

An incendiary bomb/device, fig. thai food often is incendiary (= spicy hot)., he gave an incendiary…

verb

Provoke or intensify (strong feelings, especially anger) in someone.

Usage examples:

High fines further inflamed public feelings

verb

Present participle of inflame

Usage examples:

Reducing the number of staff is certain to inflame the already angry medical profession., pictures …

adjective

Relating to or causing inflammation of a part of the body.

Usage examples:

Inflammatory cells

adjective

Likely to excite strong feelings, esp. of anger

Usage examples:

He thought his opponent’s remarks were unfair and inflammatory.

adjective

Making one extremely angry and impatient.

Usage examples:

That infuriating half-smile on his face

verb

Make (someone) extremely angry and impatient.

Usage examples:

I was infuriated by your article

adjective

Causing anger and annoyance

Usage examples:

It’s infuriating to be kept waiting this long!

adjective

Disrespectful or scornfully abusive.

Usage examples:

Insulting remarks

verb

Speak to or treat with disrespect or scornful abuse.

Usage examples:

You're insulting the woman i love

adjective

Rude or offensive

Usage examples:

You can't offer such a low salary to someone who is so highly skilled - it's insulting.

adjective

Causing annoyance, impatience, or mild anger.

Usage examples:

An irritating child

verb

Make (someone) annoyed or a little angry.

Usage examples:

His tone irritated her

adjective

Making you feel annoyed or angry

Usage examples:

There was one irritating delay after another.

adjective

Extremely annoying.

Usage examples:

She put the coins back with maddening slowness

verb

Make (someone) extremely annoyed.

Usage examples:

This is ridiculous, she told him, maddened by his reaction

adjective

Annoying

Usage examples:

Airlines make you wait in maddening ticket counter lines for hours on end.

adjective

Causing someone to feel resentful, upset, or annoyed.

Usage examples:

The allegations made are deeply offensive to us

noun

An attacking military campaign.

Usage examples:

An impending military offensive against the guerrillas

Unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses

adjective

Causing annoyance; irritating.

Usage examples:

There is evidence of provoking conduct and loss of self-control

verb

Stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone.

Usage examples:

The decision provoked a storm of protest from civil rights organizations

adjective

Exciting; stirring.

Usage examples:

A rousing speech

verb

Cause to stop sleeping.

Usage examples:

She was roused from a deep sleep by a hand on her shoulder

adjective

Enthusiastic, or causing enthusiasm

Usage examples:

A rousing speech, they gave him a rousing welcome.

adjective

Causing annoyance, frustration, or worry.

Usage examples:

The most vexing questions for policymakers

verb

Make (someone) feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried, especially with trivial matters.

Usage examples:

The memory of the conversation still vexed him