| 单词 | provocative |
| 释义 | provocative (once / 2316 pages) adj If something is provocative, it provokes a reaction. A provocative book might get people talking about a controversial idea. A provocative statement, such as "I hate babies," will get another kind of reaction. The action, thought, or feeling is often a desired one, called forth on purpose. In fact, provocative is often used to describe actions or ways of dressing that cause sexual feelings. But provocative things can also call forth something unwanted: "She was angered by the provocative remarks." This adjective was borrowed from French provocatif, from Late Latin provocativus "calling forth," from Latin provocare "to call forth, challenge." WORD FAMILYprovocative: provocatively, unprovocative+/provocation: provocations/provoke: provocation, provocative, provoked, provoker, provokes, provoking/provoked: unprovoked/provoker: provokers/provoking: provokingest, provokingly, unprovoking/unprovoked: unprovokedly USAGE EXAMPLESThe daily drama is being punctuated and animated by Mr. Trump’s provocative early morning tweets. New York Times(Dec 01, 2016) “Frankly, I think essentially that suggestion is merely provocative and not a real recommendation,” Bulova said. Washington Post(Nov 29, 2016) How to cover a president’s pronouncements when they are both provocative and maddeningly vague? New York Times(Nov 29, 2016) 1adj 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 Syn|Ant exciting creating or arousing excitement agitating, agitative, provokingcausing or tending to cause anger or resentment challenging, intriguingdisturbingly provocative chargedcapable of producing violent emotion or arousing controversy incendiary, incitive, inflammatory, instigative, rabble-rousing, seditiousarousing to action or rebellion rousingrousing to activity or heightened action as by spurring or goading unprovocative, unprovoking not provocative unexcitingnot exciting disarmingcapable of allaying hostility noninflammatorynot inflammatory nonviolentabstaining (on principle) from the use of violence 2adj exciting sexual desire her gestures and postures became more wanton and provocative Syn sexy marked by or tending to arouse sexual desire or interest |
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