provocateur
a person who provokes trouble, causes dissension, or the like; agitator.
(italics)French. agent provocateur.
Origin of provocateur
1Words Nearby provocateur
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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This is a newsletter about the things I can’t stop thinking about, and this week it’s the brilliant Craig Jenkins column in Vulture that debates Chappelle’s role as a cultural provocateur—especially in context of this new special.
Dave Chappelle’s Pointless Transphobia and Homophobia | Kevin Fallon | October 8, 2021 | The Daily BeastIt’s a clear distinction between Substack, which is often associated with bomb-throwers like Glenn Greenwald, and Facebook itself, where conservative provocateurs like Ben Shapiro, Dan Bongino, and Sean Hannity thrive.
Before she was in Congress, Greene was an online conservative provocateur and shared or liked posts that included threats of violence against Democratic politicians.
Greene’s ‘verbal assault’ on Ocasio-Cortez underscores growing tensions over safety and security on Capitol Hill | Marianna Sotomayor, Colby Itkowitz, Jacqueline Alemany | May 13, 2021 | Washington PostRush Limbaugh, conservative radio provocateur and cultural phenomenon, dies at 70Limbaugh’s tenure would last less than a month.
Nearly 20 years ago, Rush Limbaugh lost his ESPN job because he wouldn’t stick to sports | Matt Bonesteel | February 18, 2021 | Washington PostConservative provocateurs have mastered the art of getting attention and amplifying opinions on the very social networks they so roundly criticize.
Conservatives grumbling about censorship say they’re flocking to Parler. They told us so on Twitter. | Drew Harwell, Rachel Lerman | November 23, 2020 | Washington Post
Nonetheless, the pop provocateur that soap fans know by the mononym “Franco” has decided to unpack it.
James Franco and Scott Haze on 'The Sound and the Fury' and Gawker 'Outing' Them As A 'Couple' | Marlow Stern | September 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTLars von Trier, the terribly talented Danish provocateur, is quite a character.
Lars von Trier Breaks His Vow of Silence to Discuss ‘Nymphomaniac’ in Venice | Marlow Stern | September 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThese are the works of Ralph Steadman, legendary artist and provocateur.
The Gonzo Artist: Behind Ralph Steadman’s Most Famous Work | Alex Suskind | April 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTDONETSK, Ukraine—He reaches into his pocket to pull out a Ukrainian passport and opens it to prove he is no Russian provocateur.
A harder-than-hard-core conservative and professional provocateur, Peterson is an equal-opportunity offender.
The Shady Group Behind the African-American Anti-Immigration Rally | Michelle Cottle | July 12, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Whites put up a provocateur as before a pogrom in Russia.
The Soul of John Brown | Stephen GrahamI was looking about to find the German agent provocateur, but I failed to find him.
Spies of the Kaiser | William Le QueuxThat is why one was never sure that the stranger who denounced Rasputin and his friends was not an agent-provocateur.
The Minister of Evil | William Le QueuxMore than once the charge of being a provocateur was leveled at Lenine and at Trotzky, but without justification, apparently.
Bolshevism | John SpargoMy answer was that a study of many labor cases had taught me the methods of the agent provocateur.
The Profits of Religion, Fifth Edition | Upton Sinclair
British Dictionary definitions for provocateur
/ (prəˌvɒkəˈtɜː) /
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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