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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 provocateur
By focusing so much on the Jewish people and the Jewish state, these provocateurs have a much broader goal in mind than merely ostracizing America's small Jewish minority.
—
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
The Supreme Court won’t help conservative provocateur Laura Loomer take on social media companies and their advertisers who have blocked her posts.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
The most sensational collision of the FCC, the radio networks, and notions of the public interest was inspired not by Orson Welles but by another multihyphenate auteur, the screen goddess and provocateur Mae West.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocateur
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
The Supreme Court won’t help conservative provocateur Laura Loomer take on social media companies and their advertisers who have blocked her posts.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
The most sensational collision of the FCC, the radio networks, and notions of the public interest was inspired not by Orson Welles but by another multihyphenate auteur, the screen goddess and provocateur Mae West.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provocateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocateur
Noun
-
The apparent killing – captured on video shared online by the rebels themselves – took place at a university medical school in El Fasher in Sudan’s western Darfur region after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took over the city on Sunday.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
-
As regular troops in French service, the British treated them as prisoners of war instead of Jacobite rebels, and eventually repatriated them to France.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While Fury announced his retirement last January, promoter Frank Warren hinted at a Fury comeback with the British fighter hoping to complete a trilogy against the undefeated champion.—
Antonio Losada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
-
In the article, Roufus criticized promoters who were focused on profits and lacked the experience to safely sponsor fights.—
Cleo Krejci,
jsonline.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As Border patrol arrested one individual, who actively resisted arrest, pepper spray was deployed spray to deter the agitator and disperse the crowd.—
NPR,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Over a dozen agitators showed up to disrupt Sunday’s rally along Capitol Boulevard.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
An early proponent in the direct-to-consumer beauty space, Glossier entered wholesale in 2023 and has since expanded into key markets like France via Sephora and Space NK.—
Vogue Business Team,
Vogue,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The nascent market is currently led by the likes of Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, and proponents say the technology can ease air traffic congestion.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The 63-year-old former assemblyman isn’t campaigning as a culture warrior or firebrand.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Whereas Melvin was a milquetoast mainstay with two decades of experience as a major-league manager, Vitello arrives as a 47-year-old firebrand who neither played nor coached at any level of professional baseball.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Favorability Ratings Reveal Polarized Electorate All three candidates face underwater favorability ratings, though Mamdani’s supporters remain the most energized.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
At last weekend’s general assembly of Barcelona club members, Laporta tried to thread a delicate path when defending the plan to play a domestic game over 4,500 miles away, knowing that Tebas is not exactly popular with his team’s supporters.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, the term itself was an epithet throughout the founding era, a way to describe ignorant and easily deceived popular majorities, perpetually vulnerable to demagogues.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
That’s in no way a movement that could sweep the midterms and then be harnessed by a charismatic demagogue to remake an entire political party.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
State and local law enforcement officers detain a protestor during a demonstration near an ICE detention facility in Broadview, Illinois, on October 10, 2025.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
-
At least one protester was arrested, accused of assaulting a federal officer, according to DHS.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provocateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocateur. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share