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View synonyms for

provocateur

[ pruh-vok-uh-tur, -toor; French praw-vaw-ka-ٲհ ]

noun

plural provocateurs
  1. a person who provokes trouble, causes dissension, or the like; agitator.
  2. (italics) French. agent provocateur.


provocateur

/ əˌɒəˈɜː /

noun

  1. a person who deliberately behaves controversially in order to provoke argument or other strong reactions
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of provocateur1

1915–20; < French < Latin ōdzٴǰ challenger, appellant, equivalent to DZdz ( re ) to provoke + -tor -tor
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Iran doves and anti-Israel provocateurs tendentiously seized the opportunity to attempt to excise a convenient “hawkish” scalp — whether that be Hegseth or national security advisor Michael Waltz.

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Leave it to dance provocateur Mark Morris to show a way forward for the national arts center.

From

Filmmaker, actor, writer and good-natured provocateur John Waters turned 79 this week.

From

On Friday, Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur who has at times served as an advisor to Trump, shared one of Schleifer’s prior critical tweets on X and called for the prosecutor to be fired.

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One-way respect makes you a doormat, and unless Newsom calls out his guests with more force, he risks being the punchline instead of the provocateur.

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Provoprovocation