How To Use Provocative In A Sentence

A compelling storyteller with many voices lyric, operatic and diaristic, Ms. Snyder is often provocative; occasionally didactic or off-key. The Lady of the Wild Things
He has made a string of outspoken and sometimes provocative speeches in recent years.
The Russians would take a small slice at a time via dubious but not too provocative measures until the whole salami is gone. Archive 2008-06-01
When she returned she redressed her hair, drawing it back across her ears, put in at a provocative angle a fan-like carved shell comb, and twisted a shawl of flame-colored silk -- it was a manton, she instructed him -- about her shoulders. Cytherea
In his provocative work, Clichés To Live By And The Death Of The Sixties, Anaxamander O'Flaherty, a necro-ethnolinguist at the University of Altamont, suggests that the expression, "Everything is everything," succumbed to a natural death brought on by such factors as over-utilization, deterioration of relevance, and lack of adaptability to altered states of reality vis-à-vis the American experience. VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol XII No 3

This quietly provocative documentary cuts right to the heart of America's most contentious issue. Times, Sunday Times
We should therefore not be surprised that the twenties were an enthusiastic display of unchaperoned dating, provocative dress, and exhibitionist behavior.
It's sad to see such a provocative thinker go out with a whimper instead of a bang.
While the red dress was provocative and outrageous, this dress was demure and conservative, not exposing much of anything.
His use of the term "basically altruistic" is surely intended to be provocative, but what the economist means is that terrorists are often acting out of a desire to help others in their group. Are al-Qaida and the Taliban driven by the desire to help others? | Aditya Chakrabortty
The lightness of heart which had dressed them in masquerade habits, had decorated their tents, and assembled them in fantastic groups, appeared a sin against, and a provocative to, the awful destiny that had laid its palsying hand upon hope and life. II.6
There was something brilliantly provocative about the conjoining of two Arsenal related news items this week. Arsenal's failure to win trophies is not down to faint hearts | Barney Ronay
The vignette, with its quartet of bare-chested musclemen around a poker table, their biceps and pectorals effectively lit by the low-hanging overhead fixture, is funny and provocative.
Such defiantly provocative work, and the uproarious punk music which accompanied it, won him cult status.
We must assume his comments were deliberately provocative to attract interest to the rather dry topic of female participation in public life.
Let me change the subject away from race, to Leroi's provocative remarks about beauty and deformity.
The special representative in South Africa of the Organisation of African Unity, Legwaila J Legwaila, on Monday rejected what he called the provocative linkage that gave the impression the ANC Daily News Briefing
Not only that, the filmmakers created a provocative action film that ponders the essence of reality and identity.
These politic enclosures for paltry mutton, makes more rebellion in the flesh, than all the provocative electuaries doctors have uttered since last jubilee. The White Devil
It drew a line; it created an elect; it was sophisticated and Continental; it dealt with provocative subjects, with torture, sadism, hermaphroditism––with sex and power.
Provocatively mingy tax cuts seem to have caused black affront on a scale to surprise even the Nats.
There is something playfully provocative about a man extolling the virtues of privacy while surrounded by a cabal of at least 20 people. Times, Sunday Times
I know no poet who, even in quite slapdash poems, can provide more pleasant and provocative surprises.
While shifting to billiards is too provocative for Washington, if trends continue, it may soon find itself behind the eight ball with few options for maintaining its stabilizing role in the region. Billiards in the South China Sea
The Court might seek to change parts of it piecemeal and over a period of time as this would appear to be less provocative towards an elected body.
Giving us a brilliantly provocative model of how a text can be discussed against its own expectations, this book will prove highly productive for literary studies. The Times Literary Supplement
However, his deeply felt and meticulously researched rhetoric conveyed in all his books is hard hitting, provocative and sagacious.
Here the key is provocative questions or ideas that linger in their minds. Christianity Today
For all you Mc-haters out there, Denver may be passing provocative legislation that will financially "penalize" builders of mega-sized houses. July 2007
This quietly provocative documentary cuts right to the heart of America's most contentious issue. Times, Sunday Times
He could face a further two games out if found guilty of improper conduct for his provocative celebration. The Sun
As long as he does nothing wilfully provocative, he has considerable freedom to redefine his personal position on matters of faith and conscience.
But it is provocative and potentially extremely dangerous. The Sun
He is very pious and self-reliant, which is provocative of bigotry and hot temper; and surrounded and approached on all sides by clever and often unscrupulous financiers and speculators, his scutcheon has worn wonderfully well, and his character and reputation passed through many fiery ordeals. South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 1 (of 6) From the Foundation of Cape Colony to the Boer Ultimatum of 9th Oct. 1899
This provocative thesis elicits flat denials from both governments.
It is, of course, deliberately provocative and designed to tempt an unwitting Unionite into criticising his choice of closure before blinding him with the weight and depth of his erudition.
Somehow the 6 manages to look different - provocative in a very dynamic way. The Sun
His belt buckle was digging into the soft skin of her stomach and she moved agitatedly, unconsciously provocative.
Much has been written about the lecherousness of his smirks, but such provocativeness on his part definitely began in a presexual period.
Even a provocative farceur has to pay attention to a number like that. Times, Sunday Times
He doesn't really mean that—he's just being deliberately provocative.
The full mouth and tip-tilted nose gave her a provocative air. DEATH SPEAKS SOFTLY
Realising he has raised a red rag, he mollifies his provocative stance.
That, at least, is the bizarre suggestion from a group of lawyers calling for new sexual harassment laws to include women who eat 'too provocatively' in public.
The wild and provocative intonations of the danse du ventre hit our ears as one dancer broke into convulsive movement, arms, legs, torsos echoing the percussive sounds in angular responses.
Such provocative behaviour deserves criticism. Times, Sunday Times
This may go down as a canny move but for now simply looks provocative. Times, Sunday Times
To be deliberately provocative, I asked him to call this period the Toronto new wave.
More than 125,000 charitable souls have now visited the site and in honour of this tally the photo gallery features even more snaps of the sultry temptress in a range of provocative poses and towelling robes.
`Try it,' he said provocatively
The programme will take a detailed and provocative look at the problem of homelessness.
The United States, South Korea and Japan have expressed reluctance to talk with North Korea at the present time, fearing that would reward Pyongyang for what they call provocative behavior. US: North Korea Likely to Be Hiding More Nuclear Sites
This quietly provocative documentary cuts right to the heart of America's most contentious issue. Times, Sunday Times
The model's poses, at first glance sexually provocative, are actually those used by wolves.
But there are more radical readings of the contextualist setting by which antigens are sensed, and debate concerning what constitutes the milieu of meaning of antigenicity and ensuing reaction have spawned certain provocative, and potentially important models of immune regulation (reviewed in Podolsky and Tauber 1997; Tauber 2000). The Impulse of Breathing
The typical Beret statement is playfully provocative, experimental yet mining many of the same humorous and satirical veins tapped by Dada and Fluxus antiart. Chicago Reader
Where it doesn't, it feels cynically provocative. Times, Sunday Times
Wherever US troops are present, the violence is present and the troops are everywhere - in their rumbling tanks, thunderous choppers and provocative foot patrols.
Williams again wore the provocative black and blue outfit that drew international attention when unveiled in the opening round.
The case looks likely to pit a government that is trying to stamp out Western decadence against a pop star renowned for her provocative behaviour. Times, Sunday Times
Not very, comes the answer in this thrillingly provocative book. Times, Sunday Times
The honest lyrics, however unsettling they may sometimes be, are provocatively and insightfully moving.
Ian is an aspiring journalist and promises to provide provocative news programs to complement the already regular news we offer every day at noon.
When he came in to find her, she was standing on her head in a sexy leotard, legs provocatively parted.
For the canonic defense to work, everything substantively provocative in the offending art work has to be played down or simply denied.
In the interwar period there was little more provocative in the arts than a woman in command, celebrating the eroticism of the body.
Playing such a provocative character, she may have been risking her career and incurring the anger of her fans who expected the usual singing and light-footed girl-next-door.
The minister's provocative remarks were widely reported in the press.
They might be flatlining in the polls, but the Democrats still have seven votes in the Senate - and a provocative suggestion to make on tax.
I feel fairly sure that your article was deliberately provocative.
Themes of kids at play and sinister, forbidding landscapes remain, processed through a computer and enhanced by found sounds and distorted, provocatively repetitive tone patterns.
During that time they managed to be thoughtful, provocative and, heavens above, interesting.
All in all, though, this CD contains provocative and often sublime pianism.
When I called the postmaster, he said that he wasn't sure I understood what the form was for he'd highlighted the bit about "sexually provocative material". April 20th, 2003
In politics, this means provocative clickbait gets a handsome discount. Times, Sunday Times
The manuscript had been circulated among various publishers, most of whom shied away from this provocative treatment of a sensitive subject.
He was rude and antagonistic to my friends, kept picking arguments and was often deliberately provocative, manipulating people into tense arguments.
No doubt that Cannes nod (the first of several festival laurels picked up) stirred some controversy, because this is the kind of unflinchingly provocative movie that dares you to be entertained, or appalled, or both. Reviews
Here is a pleasingly provocative collision of two aesthetics, both juxtaposed and, in four plainchant pieces, superimposed. Times, Sunday Times
Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa cautioned the Congress against any attempt to "vitiate" the law and order situation with their provocative speeches and asserted that his government was capable of handling such situations. Daily News & Analysis
It is very magnanimous of you to concede that "maybe" the PCSO was wrong to accuse the preachers (who were doing nothing either illegal or intendedly provocative) of a "hate crime". On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with...
Ms. Cordova, who had traded messages with Mr. Weiner, a New York Democrat, about their shared concern over his conservative critics, said she had never sent him anything provocative.
But he is an engaging arguer, too, sometimes mangling his syntax yet often making well-reasoned points behind the provocative blather. Times, Sunday Times
This book is designed to be provocative rather than a watertight piece of economic analysis.
Their aim was to unleash m havoc on polite society with their provocative clothes and aggressive attitude. The Sun
There is a provocative bunch of yobs among their exports, while not listed soccer thugs, still ignite tempers by taunts and tease and then claim innocence when the law steps in.
They listened with edification to the racy remarks of their hostess, voicing that theoretical "broadness" of opinion as to the conduct of life which, quite as much as the perfume which she always used, was a specialty of her provocative personality; they spoke now and then, to be sure, as she drew them into conversation, but their real intercourse was almost altogether silent. The Bent Twig
T. R. Johnson, in ‘Writing as Healing and the Rhetorical Tradition,’ offers a provocative, carefully crafted rereading of connections between pre-classical, expressivist, and postmodern conceptions of self and truth.
Why bother to protest against provocative plays if the theatres will turn the lights off for you beforehand? Times, Sunday Times
For instance, MEX was the first spacecraft to detect methane in Mars' atmosphere and was also the first in discovering Martian sub-surface water, both raising provocative questions regarding the potential for life on the Red Planet. Michael Yarbrough: Behind the Scenes: European Space Operations Centre
The film doesn't gloss over the violent nature of the drugs industry, but its sympathetic portrait of the mules is quietly provocative.
Daniel researches his role as Christ, gathers a motley cast of veteran players, and mounts a daring and provocative re-telling of the Biblical tale that horrifies Le Clerc but becomes a smash hit in Quebec. John Farr: Getting Religion: The Ten Best Films on Faith
She was wearing a tight-fitting black cocktail dress that was rather provocative.
Provocative is when a girl dresses more openly than could be called alluring and couples this with a raunchy attitude plus she goes into situations where she is unprotected and there are not likely to be gentlemen about to help her. [paradigm shift required] in the male-female divide
Viewing the drama and the playhouses as destructive of virtue and provocative of vice, the Puritans wished to close them down - a threat to Shakespeare's art and livelihood.
But a play that seemed mildly provocative on a first viewing now looks as coldly manipulative as its heroine.
He could face a further two games out if found guilty of improper conduct for his provocative celebration. The Sun
The England management had clearly had enough of their star player's posturing and provocative behaviour. Times, Sunday Times
provocative Irish tunes which...compel the hearers to dance
And, in fact, they have been delivering some tough talk here at the administration, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemning North Korea for what she called provocative and belligerent threats. CNN Transcript May 27, 2009
Here in the Denver-Boulder area, medical marijuana dispensaries are as ubiquitous as Starbucks with provocative names like Dr. Reefer and Ganja Gourmet. Has the US Reached A Tipping Point On Pot?
What's provocative about Copeland's book is how he doesn't stick to just what's on the stage, as so many dance-critic purists do, but draws associations and contrasts with other art dynamics, such as demonstrating how Cunningham's light, flexible, transistorized movements answered the heavy clomp and primitivism of Jackson Pollock's action painting and the archetypal contortions of Martha Graham. Mind Expansion thru Sight and Sound: James Wolcott
If you look at beach populations, generally, you will find males travel out further from shore and are involved in more of what we refer to as provocative activities than are females. CNN Transcript Dec 17, 2004
And I think one of the things that I think will be provocative about this is that some people, despite very dire economic circumstances, insist on tithing, which is paying, you know, 10 percent of their earnings to the church. CNN Explores Faith And Debt In Black Community
When I opened them a tall, brunette woman in a provocative green dress stood before me.
Their aim was to unleash m havoc on polite society with their provocative clothes and aggressive attitude. The Sun
And a provocative exhibition tries to unpick the myth about the world's most famous apeman.
On the February cover of Russian Vogue, a tousled blonde wears Ralph Lauren's bibbed denim version, neo-hippie accessorized with a gold woven bustier, a low-slung fringed belt and skin-baring provocative side curve. Overalls: Making A Comeback?
In 1989 and 1990 there was a spate of provocative articles on the country's past.
The riot squad were quite provocative, aggressive and intimidatory.
For all his occasional gaucheness and undue display, he is the most thoughtful and provocative poet writing in English today.
The ‘provocative and powerful’ show combines humour, spectacle, character comedy and mime on September 26 - October 1.
Depending upon its position in the horoscope, Mercury is lies or truth, open or secretive, provocative or non-confrontational.
This is a provocative, outrageous, coruscating character busy destroying his own life and all those around him.
Not only that, the filmmakers created a provocative action film that ponders the essence of reality and identity.
Its provocative themes were smothered by a talky libretto that alternated between earnest exposition and sitcom jokes, set in smoothly tonal, insipid musical language.
In politics, this means provocative clickbait gets a handsome discount. Times, Sunday Times
Bowen is the latest in a line of old-style comedians to have landed themselves in hot water after using racially provocative language or jokes.
Hamm plays a lawyer who represents Ginsberg during the trial to suppress the genre-busting, sexually-provocative epic poem that gives the film its title. Jon Hamm Compares Beat Poet Allen Ginsberg To Lady Gaga And Kanye West…Yes, Really » MTV Movies Blog
She's especially lucky in regards to the film's provocative treatment of sexuality.
Multi-faceted, open-ended and provocative, this is a film whose many parallel scenes, recurring motifs and curious ironies offer plenty of fuel for thought.
Branagh's film thus presents us once again with a provocative conflict between form and content.
Underneath his carping about provocative dress is a jealous and irrational partner.
The power of his book lies not in prescription, but rather in his acute, erudite and provocative historical analysis.
He has made a string of outspoken and sometimes provocative speeches in recent years.
This minority, this small minority, violent and provocative minority, must be overwhelmed by the expressed and demonstrated loyalty of Canadians, Englishspeaking and French-speaking, to Canada, to its institutions of which the monarchy is a cherished and honoured part, and to its unity. Canadian Unity
A New Museum retrospective suggests that Adrian Piper's aggressively provocative work is as much the product of her genes as of her fervid talent.
Andy Warhol's provocative slogan, 'Everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes', became a sixties byword.
But it is most sadly provocative for its damning portrait of the fate of the ludic impulse in the Hollywood of the late 40's.
Glasgow is not the first place where the Ipswich band's deliberately provocative clothing has caused outrage.
He posed a challenge for every Jew to find himself or herself inside the siddur, which is filled with beautiful poetry, meaningful philosophy and provocative theology. Articles
But he signaled a return to his provocative ways in late July when he opened an account on Google Inc.'s new social-networking service Google+, identifying himself as "a suspected pornography enthusiast and tax evader. Ai Weiwei Resumes His Defiance of Beijing
Anything deemed to be too sexy, provocative, or disrespectful would be denied.
It is sexy and glamorous like a rose bouquet, and provocative and intense!
Philip Pullman addresses the apparent separateness of his subject's divinity and humanity in a provocative way.
We start briefly with the Donatist schism, which was basically political; and then we have a prolonged and detailed discourse on Platonism and the doctrine of the Trinity, which I must say explained both in more lucid and provocative terms than I recall reading anywhere else. Gibbon Chapter XXI
This provocative book reasons that at the core of power is'the ability of leaders to convince others to obey'. Times, Sunday Times
How is such a rewritten text disturbing, interesting, assaultive, provocative?
A person can dress provocatively and, moreover, this can be inappropriate.
His provocative words only fuelled the argument further.
But the texts both canonical and extracanonical that he discusses are key ones, and the interpretative possibilities he raises are interesting and provocative. Review of Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the God of Israel
I think French is right to explain (which is not to condone) some of Naipaul's more provocative views as a form of mischief, which Trinidadians call picong, from the French piquant, a type of sharp talk where, in French's words, "the boundary between good and bad taste is deliberately blurred, and the listener sent reeling. The Lessons of the Master
But it was delayed because ministers suggested that it would be a provocative move before the party conference. Times, Sunday Times
The U.S. ambassador to the IAEA, Glyn Davies, called the mobe "provocative. Latest News - Yahoo!7 News
In fact, cultures that frown upon eye contact as sexually provocative may have a point.
He could face a further two games out if found guilty of improper conduct for his provocative celebration. The Sun
Having to resort to a cruel and unusual punishment adds a moral relativity that is profoundly provocative.
• Refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour. Top stories from Times Online
It traces developments of provocative networks and typologies for regional planning and new urbanism.
The two differ in everything from their fashion preferences to their backgrounds to their personalities, but for these two edgy mothers, their diversity is their blessing and advantage in making a provocative shopping experience, the Popsy experience. The Popsy Experience
Two distinct reasons are offered for this deliberately provocative conclusion.
Entire picturisation is highly provocative and may trigger off unrest and communal violence. Archive 2004-08-01
Yet however good it is, it seems rather tame compared to the provocative brilliance of his earlier work.
He's shocked to find her dressed provocatively and in a saucy mood.
Peta is well known for its provocative ad campaigns, which sometimes feature nude models proclaiming they'd rather go naked than wear fur.
Those caveats aside, the study gives a provocative look at how one of the world's most rapidly developing regions may look in 20 years' time.
What impact do the raw and explicit lyrics in hip-hop music and provocative images of women in the videos have on our girls?
Much of the country's art revisits the apartheid past in provocative ways, mining South Africa's material history like an archive of memories and re-presenting this archive's contents for careful consideration.
But it is provocative and potentially extremely dangerous. The Sun
According to residents, police then began a provocative large-scale mobilisation in the area.
So did he use a comic form to make it easier to say provocative things? Times, Sunday Times
It challenges you with provocative ideas, and doesn't spoon-feed you.
Despite its pulpy theme, the story is provocative and acutely depressing.
Included in the measure are provisions that were opposed by the UN weapons inspectors themselves as not only unnecessarily provocative, but unrealizable.
On the other hand, the English word “provocative” (provocant/e” in French) has a much more positive connotation: “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” (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language.) Agent provocateur, provoquer, provocant/e
Her intellectually provocative essay on the songs is touched by fashionable postmodernist ideas.
We value good writing, as we value controversial and provocative ideas, for their own sake.
She spots Bruno staring at her, and gives him a ‘come-on’ look while provocatively tonguing her ice cream cone.
There is a refreshing simple charm and provocativeness to many of these narratives that is perhaps a result of simply not being overwrought by academic rhetoric and formal writing training.
She was sitting in a highly provocative pose.
We are not wearing provocative necklines, neither short skirts nor are we showing our backsides.
The England management had clearly had enough of their star player's posturing and provocative behaviour. Times, Sunday Times
In contrast to the al-Manar report, this diatribe includes such absurd and provocative anti-Semitic statements as "the Jews knew and were prewarned" about 9/11. Palestine Blogs aggregator
The provocative swimwear became a symbol of a Coast offering sun, surf, warmth and excitement.
Those disgruntled fans were not necessarily being emotional or provocative. Times, Sunday Times
Chen, she said, has taken what she characterized as a provocative and belligerent stance toward mainland China, all for his personal political gain, in hopes that he can be hailed as the savior who stands up to Communist China. Archive 2006-04-01
This excellent study is scholarly, clearly written, informative, and provocative.
I am hoping that the results will be pleasing to the reader, if less "pigeonholed" to one place; engaging and sometimes provocative if less "booster"; revealing if less public. And now for something a little different
Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Hedy Lamarr were the provocative, sensual kind.
These essays provide a variety of interesting, provocative perspectives on science in Canada.
Andy Warhol's provocative slogan, 'Everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes', became a sixties byword.
To flesh out further this last rather willfully provocative statement, we must return to the reaction elicited by the proletariat's principal surrogates in Saint Symphorien - the two foreground lictors.
For Karen Valby of Entertainment Weekly, Reds is political, educational, provocative, difficult, and long (clocking in at well over three hours). GreenCine Daily: DVDs, 10/25.
British officials strongly advised against the move, warning that it could be seen as provocative or even insulting.
By "porker", I refer to its traditional meaning of "fattened young pig" and not to its colloquial use for corpulent persons, although it's always fun to be provocative. Fat porkers get sacrificed
Even a provocative farceur has to pay attention to a number like that. Times, Sunday Times
Already, you can see around town Italianised Chinese teenagers, the girls particularly conspicuous in their chic, often provocatively cut outfits and heavy makeup.
Yet the audacity of the writing, coupled with the crackling energy of the acting, makes this provocative exhibition well worth a visit. Times, Sunday Times
Israeli government to take all possible measures to prevent an escalation of tension following what it termed provocative actions of a small group of Israeli settlers who established an unauthorised settlement in East Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives ANC Daily News Briefing
His business was overshadowed by fellow Italian designer Gianni Versace who made his name courting Hollywood starlets as clotheshorses for his provocative looks. For Roberto Cavalli,
He was considered brilliantly inventive, witty and provocative. Times, Sunday Times
You don't dress provocatively, and you don't go around flaunting yourself.
The professor of gerontology at the University of Newcastle is giving this year's series of five Lectures under the provocative title The End Of Age.
His behavior was called provocative and antisocial.
Separated by the confines of the performance space, dancers perform the unsuggestible or move the figures in sexually provocative ways to excite a growing crowd and entice them to stay on their side.
But unrhymed lyrics are a different and more provocative thing. The Times Literary Supplement
Yup, there's actually thousands of mentally abnormal people out there flashing their privates and ‘performing provocative poses’.
The Passionate Eye airs provocative documentaries on leading social and political issues of the day.
Here in the Denver-Boulder area, medical marijuana dispensaries are as ubiquitous as Starbucks, with provocative names like Dr. Reefer and Ganja Gourmet. Has the US Reached A Tipping Point On Pot?
I prefer articles which are provocative to those which follow well-worn grooves because I think the development of critical thinking is important to good debate.

How To Use Provocative In A Sentence

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