What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
aggravative
Example
The noise from the construction site was aggravative to the residents. [aggravative: adjective]
Example
Her constant complaining was aggravative to her coworkers. [aggravative: adjective]
provoking
Example
The movie's ending was provoking and left the audience thinking. [provoking: adjective]
Example
He kept provoking his sister by teasing her about her grades. [provoking: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Provoking is more commonly used than aggravative in everyday language. Provoking is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while aggravative is less common and may be more specific in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between aggravative and provoking?
Both aggravative and provoking can be used in formal and informal contexts, but aggravative may be perceived as more technical or specialized due to its less common usage.