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
Once, his Julian Sklar was the bisexual provocateur of the London art scene commanding millions for a single piece.
—
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Among the last correspondence Epstein had about the Middle East is a chat with far-right provocateur Steve Bannon in June 2019.
—Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Hans was a provocateur, not a prodigy—and certainly not a threat.
—Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
On Saturday, two Pennsylvania teens who federal prosecutors said were radicalized by ISIS attempted to detonate IED’s at a protest led by right-wing provocateur Jake Lang outside Gracie Mansion.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocateur
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Among the last correspondence Epstein had about the Middle East is a chat with far-right provocateur Steve Bannon in June 2019.
—Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Hans was a provocateur, not a prodigy—and certainly not a threat.
—Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
On Saturday, two Pennsylvania teens who federal prosecutors said were radicalized by ISIS attempted to detonate IED’s at a protest led by right-wing provocateur Jake Lang outside Gracie Mansion.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provocateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provocateur
Noun
-
Its leaders have been working to rebuild relations with Arab and Western countries that had shunned Syria under former President Bashar Assad, who was ousted in December 2024 by rebels, who then installed a new government.—
Abby Sewell,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
As the years tick by, the lips become a bit of a rebel.—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While living in Dubai, Kinahan presented himself as a legitimate boxing promoter.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
-
King is a prominent boxing promoter who has worked with some of the most successful boxers over the course of his 50-year career.—
PEOPLE,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The following day at Haymarket Square in Chicago, an unknown agitator threw a bomb at police, killing one officer instantly and leading to a violent battle that killed several more law enforcement officers and protesters.—
Preston Mizell,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Birdbaths that have small fountains or agitators also keep the water rippling.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At the same time, many national security proponents and experts in the intelligence community argue that such restrictions would impede law enforcement efforts and pose severe national security risks.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Last Tuesday, the California Secretary of State reported that proponents, led by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, had turned in more than enough valid signatures to county registrars, ensuring that voters will be given an opportunity to restore the original intent of Proposition 13.—
Jon Coupal,
Oc Register,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Since arriving on the scene almost a decade ago, the trio have presented themselves as firebrands, ready to stick it to an establishment seeking to strangle the last remnants of 20th century Irish republicanism.—
Dean Van Nguyen,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
-
But the resume this native of the central Mexico state of San Luis Potosí brought to the paper was that of a firebrand.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The complaints were both filed about a month apart by Jeremy Fetzer, a political consultant who also runs the political action committee Osceola Action Committee and is a supporter of Mayor Jackie Espinosa, who is herself facing ethics charges.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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The zoo, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this week, has announced plans to build a new medical center that will feature a viewing gallery for visitors, thanks to a donation of £20 million ($27 million) from a long-term supporter who is not being identified.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Does the rise of right-wing demagogues offer chilling parallels to the Pinochet era?—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Leftist demagogues specialize in lose-lose-lose policies.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Several federal prosecutors who had worked on the Feeding Our Future cases resigned earlier this year in the wake of the death of protester Renee Good, who was fatally shot in January by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
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Amirhossein Hatami, an 18-year-old protester, was one of those 10 protesters.—
Somayeh Malekian,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provocateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provocateur. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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