as in rebel
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of agent provocateur
There is the buffer, the confidante, the agent provocateur.
—
George Caulkin, New York Times, 7 July 2025
But De Niro’s attempt at playing agent provocateur stumbled badly: His decision to stand outside the New York Trump trial cost the actor his credibility.
—Armond White, National Review, 5 June 2024
Members of the crowd accused Epps of being an agent provocateur, which later helped spur the conspiracy theories about him.
—Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2024
Jester, troubadour, agent provocateur, Serge Gainsbourg rhymed his way through life in a fog of Gitanes smoke, making music of every genre.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023
The Globoplay Original, produced by the company’s journalism arm, examines the lives of those adjacent to the faction through interviews with the contingents’ defenders, defectors, sociologists and an agent provocateur that develops carefully-orchestrated chaos.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 20 Mar. 2023
Anyone who maligns the sultan is immediately thought to be an agent provocateur working for the sultan, and probably is.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2022
The last dispatch from the alien/agent provocateur known as Greg Tate beamed out from perhaps his most inconspicuous dwelling.
—Tirhakah Love, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2021
At the same time, agents provocateurs played a significant role in the turbulence.
—Adam Hochschild, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2019
George Caulkin, New York Times, 7 July 2025
But De Niro’s attempt at playing agent provocateur stumbled badly: His decision to stand outside the New York Trump trial cost the actor his credibility.
—Armond White, National Review, 5 June 2024
Members of the crowd accused Epps of being an agent provocateur, which later helped spur the conspiracy theories about him.
—Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2024
Jester, troubadour, agent provocateur, Serge Gainsbourg rhymed his way through life in a fog of Gitanes smoke, making music of every genre.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023
The Globoplay Original, produced by the company’s journalism arm, examines the lives of those adjacent to the faction through interviews with the contingents’ defenders, defectors, sociologists and an agent provocateur that develops carefully-orchestrated chaos.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 20 Mar. 2023
Anyone who maligns the sultan is immediately thought to be an agent provocateur working for the sultan, and probably is.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2022
The last dispatch from the alien/agent provocateur known as Greg Tate beamed out from perhaps his most inconspicuous dwelling.
—Tirhakah Love, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2021
At the same time, agents provocateurs played a significant role in the turbulence.
—Adam Hochschild, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agent provocateur
Noun
-
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, last year was the worst year yet for peace in the country since a 2016 deal was struck between the FARC, Colombia’s largest rebel group, and the Colombian state.—
Ladan Anoushfar,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
-
In 2024, a group of UN experts said that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the rebels.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Lahav emphasized that stringent measures would need to be taken in Israel's outreach to Iranian insurgent groups to avoid creating outcomes with the potential to be just as unfavorable, or even more unfavorable, to national and regional security.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 July 2025
-
Saturday’s bracket gets going with one-time tourney staple UCLA and insurgent Murray State.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
In the modern Middle East, a resounding blow against a troublemaker has rarely resulted in conciliation, capitulation, or even durable de-escalation.—
Suzanne Maloney,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Aug. 2025
-
The only real Twins troublemaker was Brooks Lee, who wasn’t originally slated to play in the contest.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Dad’s grandfather had been a cabinetmaker by day and a socialist revolutionary by night.—
Nancy Walecki,
The Atlantic,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Her dancers wore Black berets—a symbol of global Black resistance, from the Panthers in the U.S. to Caribbean revolutionaries like Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.—
Richard Fowler,
Forbes.com,
27 July 2025
Noun
-
No one was hurt in the incident, which occurred as the Starship spacecraft was standing alone on the test stand prior to being mounted on top of the rocket booster.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Because immunity to pertussis wanes within a few years, keeping up with the booster is important.—
Fran Kritz,
Verywell Health,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Both Scott and concert promoter Live Nation were investigated in the wake of the tragedy but were cleared by a Texas grand jury in 2023.—
Kate Perez,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Opened in 2019 by former nightclub promoter Josh Heuser, the bar makes imaginative use of the tunnels once used as storage for saloons and breweries before the days of refrigeration.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Hamilton's Phillipa Soo is portraying Mary Magdalene, with Milo Manheim playing apostle Peter.—
Maureen Lee Lenker Published,
EW.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Judas, one of the apostles, betrays Jesus and that same night, Jesus is arrested and flogged.—
Tribune News Reports,
Hartford Courant,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
Our agency protocol prioritizes swiftly engaging with both positive sentiment to cultivate brand advocates and negative feedback for prompt, effective reputation management.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
So the matter went back to the City Council Planning and Development Committee in May and was recommended for approval, despite facing some opposition from residents and advocates.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agent provocateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agent%20provocateur. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share