as in rebel
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Recent Examples of agent provocateur
And for good reason; Villanueva spent his four years in office more as an agent provocateur than a public safety official.
—
The Editorial Board, Daily News, 13 May 2026
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
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
The Editorial Board, Daily News, 13 May 2026
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
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
-
In March, Washington sanctioned Rwanda’s defense forces and several senior officials, accusing them of funding the M23 rebels who have taken over mineral-rich areas of eastern DR Congo.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
15 May 2026
-
Chance understands why some kids rebel.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
But even larger numbers of socially conservative white working-class voters in Wales, Scotland and northern England — the traditional bedrock of Labour’s support — switched to Reform, the insurgent party founded by Nigel Farage, the renowned Brexit campaigner.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
-
According to the military, security forces launched an operation in the province’s district of Barkhan to rout out insurgents that Islamabad claims are backed by India.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
There are also alternative – some argue extremist – sites that limit content moderation, including 4chan, BitChute, Gab, GETTR, Parler, Rumble and Truth Social.—
Nathalie Japkowicz,
The Conversation,
18 May 2026
-
While those behind the recent maritime raids have yet to be identified, previous ship captures have often involved young Somalis from impoverished communities and armed extremists affiliated with global terror networks.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, younger brother Sam begins to suspect that Michael's new friends are not merely troublemakers, but vampires.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Retaliation can include being assigned to a station far from home, passed up for promotions or labeled a troublemaker.—
Alene Tchekmedyian,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This revolutionary fervor culminated in both Fidel and Raúl, with roughly 140 rebel revolutionaries in tow, storming Cuba’s second-largest military installation, the Moncada Barracks, in July 1953.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
In the second half of the 20th century, everyone who was anyone in American culture – from Hollywood icons to presidents and revolutionaries – had their portrait taken by Avedon.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
One candidate ran as a fervent booster, arguing that Atlantic Yards would bring jobs and housing to the area.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
First Test For Next-Generation Starship Hardware Tuesday’s mission will debut redesigned versions of both components of the launch vehicle — the Starship upper stage and the Super Heavy booster.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Live Nation Israel was formed in 2017 (along with Ticketmaster Israel) when the concert giant took majority ownership in Israeli concert-production company Bluestone, a joint venture between Guy Oseary, Madonna’s longtime manager, Beser, veteran Israeli promoter Shay Mor Yosef, and others.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2026
-
Bambo follows a 1980s Brooklyn boxing promoter and his daughter.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The New Testament does contain positive depictions of Pharisees — Levine points to Nicodemus, who defended Jesus and helped bury him, and Gamaliel, who advocated for the apostles Peter and John.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
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Or perhaps the President would have been satisfied enough with Peter, one of Jesus’ original twelve apostles, whom many consider to be the first Pope.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agent provocateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agent%20provocateur. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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