provocateur

American  

[pruh-vok-uh-tur, -toor, praw-vaw-ka-tœr] / prəˌvɒk əˈtɜr, -ˈtʊər, prɔ vɔ kaˈtœr /

noun

plural

provocateurs

1. a person who provokes trouble, causes dissension, or the like; agitator.

2. (italics) agent provocateur.

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provocateur British  

/ prəˌvɒkəˈtɜː /

noun

1. a person who deliberately behaves controversially in order to provoke argument or other strong reactions

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Etymology

Origin of provocateur

1915–20; < French < Latin prōvocātor challenger, appellant, equivalent to provocā ( re ) to provoke + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

Witty and mischievous, a punster and provocateur, Man Ray excelled as a photographer, filmmaker and object-maker.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the early days of Monday Night Football, Howard Cosell, the original sports media provocateur, often griped about former NFL players leaving the field and walking into the booth.

From Los Angeles Times

Reckzeh had been set up as a spy and agent provocateur by the Gestapo: Thadden had been fooled by his elaborately constructed cover story.

From The Wall Street Journal

A “provocateur” is a person who tries to stir up trouble.

From Literature

Fuentes famously spent years harassing Kirk and his Turning Point staff at similar college campus events before Kirk banned the provocateur.

From Salon

Related Words

• anarchist
• demagogue
• firebrand
• malcontent
• propagandist
• protestor
• radical
• troublemaker
• zealot