as in rebel
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent
a calculating provocateur, she has made a career out of controversy for its own sake
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Recent Examples of provocateur
In 1988, when the Sun-Times sports section was seeking a provocateur, Boers was the choice.
—
Phil Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
Local far-right provocateur David Pettinger attended the Wednesday hearing to air rumors that swirled online that the bill was backed by Israel, which is thousands of miles away.
—Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
However, the Academy clearly still has a soft spot for the Greek provocateur—Bugonia got four nods, including in best picture and best actress for Emma Stone’s magnetic lead performance.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
Nick Fuentes, the extreme-right provocateur, has been called many things—a Nazi, a white supremacist, a misogynist, an incel—but never a ladies’ man.
—Maggie Turner, Air Mail, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocateur
Phil Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
Local far-right provocateur David Pettinger attended the Wednesday hearing to air rumors that swirled online that the bill was backed by Israel, which is thousands of miles away.
—Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
However, the Academy clearly still has a soft spot for the Greek provocateur—Bugonia got four nods, including in best picture and best actress for Emma Stone’s magnetic lead performance.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
Nick Fuentes, the extreme-right provocateur, has been called many things—a Nazi, a white supremacist, a misogynist, an incel—but never a ladies’ man.
—Maggie Turner, Air Mail, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocateur
Noun
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The rebel militias under Ahmed al-Sharaa’s command had been lobbying for Turkey’s permission to launch a military operation, and finally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave it to them.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
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Violette briefly resurfaced in 2018 with a small solo show at Gladstone’s Upper East Side town house—an improbably tasteful site for an erstwhile rebel.—
Rachel Wetzler,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One question has bothered Martin Ludlow in his decades as a concert and event promoter in Los Angeles.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Independent producers and promoters rent its venues for their performances and events.—
E. Andrew Taylor,
The Conversation,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Sanders, who turned 84 in September, seems to have earned immunity from the party’s anti-gerontocratic agitators.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
-
First, there is the growing volume of anti-Wikipedia sentiment from right-wing agitators.—
Imogen West-Knights,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
However, Joyner isn't a proponent of doing so, if possible.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
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Count Doyle as a proponent of the Rockies’ outfield options as Colorado looks for ways to show progress following a disastrous 119-loss season in 2025.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The political firebrand’s career, spanning 46 years in City Hall, came to an end last month when newcomer Rolando Escalona won the District 3 seat that Carollo and his younger brother Frank had occupied since 2009.—
Tess Riski
January 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
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In the 1980s, right-wing firebrands such as Jerry Falwell and Anita Bryant claimed that the AIDS epidemic was a plague sent by God to punish gay people.—
Hillary Rodham Clinton,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
To his excited supporters, Platner might just be the Democrats’ perfect populist insurgent for Maine.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Unless public land supporters in office act to clarify corner crossing in law, access will continue to shrink.—
Karlee Provenza,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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From ancient sources philosophers and poets, democrats and demagogues, found justification for everything from anarchy to fascism, and there are reasons for both justifications.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
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Without a robust legitimacy narrative, demagogues fill the vacuum.—
Annelise Riles,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The reactions of Idaho lawmakers, lawyers and gun-rights activists to the killing of a Minnesota protester run the gamut.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
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And then there’s Kyle Rittenhouse, a counter-protester acquitted after fatally shooting two men and injuring another in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during the post-Floyd protests.—
Bill Barrow,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocateur. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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