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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provocateur
But the Fosters hosting a fundraiser for the reality-TV provocateur turned mayoral candidate suggests that stigma may be starting to erode.
—
Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 13 May 2026
Critic Rex Reed, who died Tuesday at 87, built his career on savage, acerbic reviews delivered with little restraint, earning a reputation as a provocateur.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
McGrath’s work covers artists ranging from indie provocateur Peaches and Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff to Smashing Pumpkins, Beck, Soundgarden and Steve Martin, so don’t be surprised to see some of your favorites in there.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 7 May 2026
Just a funny parasocial back-and-forth between some of the most passionate fans in sports and one of the best provocateurs the SEC has seen since Steve Spurrier.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocateur
Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 13 May 2026
Critic Rex Reed, who died Tuesday at 87, built his career on savage, acerbic reviews delivered with little restraint, earning a reputation as a provocateur.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
McGrath’s work covers artists ranging from indie provocateur Peaches and Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff to Smashing Pumpkins, Beck, Soundgarden and Steve Martin, so don’t be surprised to see some of your favorites in there.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 7 May 2026
Just a funny parasocial back-and-forth between some of the most passionate fans in sports and one of the best provocateurs the SEC has seen since Steve Spurrier.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocateur
Noun
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Accompanying the violence, both the Naxals and the security forces – including local militia raised to combat the rebels – have been accused of horrific human rights abuses, including abductions, torture and rape.—
Dhruv Tikekar,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
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The rebels have reported two cases.—
Jean-Yves Kamale,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Concert promoters, meanwhile, see it as filling an important gap in Southern California’s music venue market.—
Clay Marshall,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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Quality Content Influencers aren’t merely promoters but content machines.—
Wyles Daniel
June 4,
Idaho Statesman,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Goche said much of the anger toward ICE is fueled by misinformation and agitators.—
Brooke Taylor,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
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The bag will help protect the garment from friction, snagging, and other damage caused by other items in the wash, and add an extra layer between the machine’s drum and center agitator and the clothing.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2026
Noun
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This new age of beauty, proponents said, is about keeping your skin fresh in the long term rather than freaking about the appearance of aging in the present.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
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The Legislature passed a suite of housing bills this session to override local zoning rules that proponents argued contributed to the state’s affordability woes, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.—
Rose Evans
June 6,
Idaho Statesman,
6 June 2026
Noun
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More screen time is given over to her burgeoning friendship with firebrand suffragette Mary, played by singer Lily Allen in a deliberately anachronistic performance — her forthright speech and manner beamed in directly from the 21st century.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
3 June 2026
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Here’s the liberal firebrand who wants to shake up Sacramento.—
George Skelton,
Mercury News,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Several supporters said raising a Pride flag in town would help LGBTQ+ residents feel accepted.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
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Union supporters contend that the thousands of workers — despite different titles and job areas — face similar dis-empowerment in their day-to-day jobs.—
Jaweed Kaleem,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
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But those standards can be easily stretched by demagogues, and a simple majority on the committee is enough to ban a party, though a panel of nine Supreme Court justices can overturn the decision on appeal.—
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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But demeaning our brand through association with vulgar demagogues is a losing strategy.—
Alma Hernandez,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Noun
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The Fort Worth Independent School District’s board meeting Monday was broken up by a protester yelling about Sharia law.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
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Christopher Cann Secretary of State Marco Rubio's opening statement was interrupted by a protester who called for the United States to stop supporting Israel over its conduct in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocateur. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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