different between engaging vs provocative

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n??e?d????/, /????e?d????/
• Rhymes: -e?d???
• Hyphenation: en?gag?ing

Adjective

engaging (comparative more engaging, superlative most engaging)

1. That engages the attention; engrossing, interesting; enthralling.

   I found the first of the Harry Potter books a very engaging read.

2. Charming; attractive, especially of a manner or behaviour.

   Beauty, of course, and a bright, engaging personality — or at least the ability to fake one — are prerequisites for entering the Miss World competition.

Synonyms

• (that engages the attention): absorbing, compelling, engrossing, enthralling, interesting
• (charming): appealing, attractive, sweet

Antonyms

• (that engages the attention): boring, dull, unengaging, uninteresting
• (charming): boorish, rude, uncivil, uncivilised

Derived terms

• engagingness
• unengaging

Translations

Verb

engaging

1. present participle of engage

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p???v?k.?.t?v/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /p???v?k.?.t?v/

Adjective

provocative (comparative more provocative, superlative most provocative)

1. Serving or tending to elicit a strong, often negative sentiment in another person; exasperating.
2. Serving or tending to excite, stimulate or arouse sexual interest; sexy.

Related terms

• provoke
• provocation
• provocator

Related terms

• provocateur

Translations

Noun

provocative (plural provocatives)

1. (obsolescent) Something that provokes an appetite, especially a sexual appetite; an aphrodisiac. [from 15th c.]
   • 1723, Charles Walker, Memoirs of the Life of Sally Salisbury:

     She used by way of Provocative, to read the wanton Verses of her Paramour in the day time [...].

Latin

Adjective

pr?voc?t?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of pr?voc?t?vus