provocative

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /pɹəˈvɑ.kə.tɪv/ UK /pɹəˈvɒk.ə.tɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #16629

Meanings

1

adj
Deliberately causing a strong reaction, such as anger, argument, or interest.

The article made some provocative claims about the future of work.
2

adj
Intended to attract sexual interest.

She wore a provocative dress to the party.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · deliberately causing a... agitative

2 adj · intended to attract sexual... sexy aphrodisiac

Word family

Derived forms bronchoprovocativenonprovocativeprovocativelyprovocativenessunprovocative

Related forms provocateurprovocation provocator provoke

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

provocative remark
a comment likely or intended to cause argument or a strong reaction

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French provocatif, and its source, Late Latin provocativus, from Latin provocare.

*wekʷ- Proto-Indo-European provocatif Middle French provocativus la-lat provocare Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# provocative

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /pɹəˈvɑ.kə.tɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /pɹəˈvɒk.ə.tɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 16629

## Meanings
1. Deliberately causing a strong reaction, such as anger, argument, or interest.
2. Intended to attract sexual interest.

## Examples
- The article made some provocative claims about the future of work.
- She wore a provocative dress to the party.

## Derived Forms
- bronchoprovocative
- nonprovocative
- provocatively
- provocativeness
- unprovocative

## Related Forms
- provocateur
- provocation
- provocator
- provoke

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *wekʷ-
- Root: provocatif
- Root: provocativus
- Root: provocare

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French provocatif, and its source, Late Latin provocativus, from Latin provocare.

## AI Etymology
Provocative is borrowed from Middle French provocatif, and its source, Late Latin provocativus, from Latin provocare. In present-day use, it can mean deliberately causing a strong reaction, such as anger, argument, or interest, or intended to attract sexual interest. Related forms include provocateur, provocation, provocator, provoke. Derived formations include bronchoprovocative, nonprovocative, provocatively, provocativeness, unprovocative.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

markdown