agent provocateur
noun
a secret agent hired to incite suspected persons to some illegal action, outbreak, etc., that will make them liable to punishment.
agents provocateurs
-
pluralof agent provocateur.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At the same time, agents provocateurs played a significant role in the turbulence.
From The New Yorker ● Nov. 4, 2019
All urged the ensemble not to sugarcoat history: There were accomplishments among the groups, but there were also lows like infighting, sexism and the damage wrought by informers and agents provocateurs.
From New York Times ● Nov. 27, 2016
Whether they also forge messages, employ agents provocateurs and engage in entrapment, we do not know, but it would be surprising if they didn't.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 17, 2012
If only they had acted as agents provocateurs in the name of a good cause!
From The Guardian ● Jun. 26, 2010
The government also infiltrated spies and agents provocateurs into the organization.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
