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
Hutch is no passive-aggressive provocateur.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
There is also Cartman as right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk doing his podcast on the toilet while getting busy.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
The Federal Communications Commission also proposed $5.1 million in fines against Wohl and Burkman, who gained prominence as conservative provocateurs in the years surrounding the 2020 election.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Dracula, the new film from Romanian provocateur Radu Jadu (Kontinental ’25, Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World), world premiered in the competition program of the 78th edition of the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for provocateur
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
There is also Cartman as right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk doing his podcast on the toilet while getting busy.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
The Federal Communications Commission also proposed $5.1 million in fines against Wohl and Burkman, who gained prominence as conservative provocateurs in the years surrounding the 2020 election.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Dracula, the new film from Romanian provocateur Radu Jadu (Kontinental ’25, Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World), world premiered in the competition program of the 78th edition of the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for provocateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocateur
Noun
-
The New York Times in 2015 reported that hundreds of Colombian mercenaries had been sent to Yemen to fight against the Houthi rebels, hired directly — and in secret — by the UAE.—
Rebecca Johns,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Tapping into your inner rebel as of late, Sagittarius?—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For instance, when the Martins were broke, before Christy gained the attention of legendary boxing promoter Don King, Jim, played on screen in a terrifying performance by Ben Foster, would take her to motel rooms to spar with men who would pay for the opportunity.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The Geiers are widely viewed with contempt as promoters of unsubstantiated claims that vaccines cause autism.—
Judy Stone,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That might be an agitator for some players.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
22 Aug. 2025
-
To those worried about an unchecked secularism, Dobson was a powerful agitator for his version of moral certitude and fundamentalist faith.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Host a challenge forum with a proponent, a skeptic, and a synthesizer.—
Curt Steinhorst,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
To answer this question, Lam looks to the ancient Chinese philosopher Han Fei, an important proponent of the school of thought known as Legalism.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Hong Kong — The judges in the trial of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai on Thursday retired to consider their verdict on three national security charges that could see the 77-year-old pro-democracy firebrand jailed for life.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Most frequently, the audience experienced Young tap his inner firebrand.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The president sought to show supporters that the achievements of his administration would be wiped out if Republican opponent Mitt Romney won the election.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Despite facing challenges to get the march off the ground this year, supporters came bearing flags, signs and spirit on the eve of the Boise Pride Festival, which takes place this weekend.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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One such incident occurred in the UK in October 2022, when a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was dragged into the grounds of a Chinese consulate in Manchester and beaten, in events captured on camera.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
10 Aug. 2025
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The conflict between the protesters at one point became violent, when an LGBTQ protester allegedly struck local conservative activist Josh Fulfer with a flag pole.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Our shrinking attention span has left us vulnerable to demagogues and misinformation from every direction.—
Doug McIntyre,
Oc Register,
31 Aug. 2025
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Because huge shocks to the system tend to empower either a) bold problem solvers or b) populist demagogues.—
Matt K. Lewis,
Twin Cities,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provocateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocateur. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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