provocateur

noun

pro·vo·ca·teur prō-ˌvä-kə-ˈtər How to pronounce provocateur (audio)

: agent provocateur

: one who provokes

a political provocateur

Did you know?

In "provocateur," a word borrowed directly from French, one sees the English verb "provoke." Both "provoke" and "provocateur" derive from Latin provocare, meaning "to call forth." Why do we say "provocateur" for one who incites another to action, instead of simply "provoker"? Perhaps it's because of "agent provocateur," a term of French origin that literally means "provoking agent." Both "agent provocateur" and the shortened "provocateur" can refer to someone (such as an undercover police officer or a political operative) whose job is to incite people to break the law so that they can be arrested, but only "provocateur" is used in English with the more general sense of "one who provokes."

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web His career spanned more than half a century and became increasingly political, earning him a reputation as a provocateur.

Angelina Rascouet, Fortune, 13 Sep. 2022 That caption ran alongside a photo of what appears to be the 37-year-old provocateur’s House of Representatives ID atop a leather Louis Vuitton bag.

al, 6 June 2022 As George Bernard Shaw, a comic provocateur of his century, might have put it, Brooks is clearly imbued with the Life Schwartz.

Washington Post, 10 Dec. 2021 In the end, Newton-John’s gentle Sandra Dee energy radiated far stronger than that of her inner provocateur.

Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2022 The artist has successfully and impressively carved out her own niche in the industry by mixing rap with rage, screamo with pop, and indulging in her role as a modern-day provocateur.

Candace Mcduffie, Glamour, 25 July 2022 Presented as prelude to the events of Jan. 6, the documentary shows that the violence that day was almost inevitable, the self-fulfilling prophecy of a provocateur who always put his own interests first and went to any lengths to preserve his image.

Eli Stokolsstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2022 Presented as prelude to the events of Jan. 6, the documentary shows that the violence that day was almost inevitable, the self-fulfilling prophecy of a provocateur who always put his own interests first and went to any lengths to preserve his image.

al, 10 July 2022 Reading Sebald in a German context, and knowing his criticism as well as his fiction, yields a different picture: that of an incorrigible provocateur who never let the facts get in the way of a good anti-German polemic.

Harper’s Magazine , 18 Jan. 2022 See More

单词	provocateur
释义	provocateur noun pro·vo·ca·teur prō-ˌvä-kə-ˈtər 1 : agent provocateur 2 : one who provokes a political provocateur Did you know? In "provocateur," a word borrowed directly from French, one sees the English verb "provoke." Both "provoke" and "provocateur" derive from Latin provocare, meaning "to call forth." Why do we say "provocateur" for one who incites another to action, instead of simply "provoker"? Perhaps it's because of "agent provocateur," a term of French origin that literally means "provoking agent." Both "agent provocateur" and the shortened "provocateur" can refer to someone (such as an undercover police officer or a political operative) whose job is to incite people to break the law so that they can be arrested, but only "provocateur" is used in English with the more general sense of "one who provokes." Synonyms agitator demagogue demagog exciter firebrand fomenter incendiary inciter instigator kindler rabble-rouser See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web His career spanned more than half a century and became increasingly political, earning him a reputation as a provocateur. Angelina Rascouet, Fortune, 13 Sep. 2022 That caption ran alongside a photo of what appears to be the 37-year-old provocateur’s House of Representatives ID atop a leather Louis Vuitton bag. al, 6 June 2022 As George Bernard Shaw, a comic provocateur of his century, might have put it, Brooks is clearly imbued with the Life Schwartz. Washington Post, 10 Dec. 2021 In the end, Newton-John’s gentle Sandra Dee energy radiated far stronger than that of her inner provocateur. Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2022 The artist has successfully and impressively carved out her own niche in the industry by mixing rap with rage, screamo with pop, and indulging in her role as a modern-day provocateur. Candace Mcduffie, Glamour, 25 July 2022 Presented as prelude to the events of Jan. 6, the documentary shows that the violence that day was almost inevitable, the self-fulfilling prophecy of a provocateur who always put his own interests first and went to any lengths to preserve his image. Eli Stokolsstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2022 Presented as prelude to the events of Jan. 6, the documentary shows that the violence that day was almost inevitable, the self-fulfilling prophecy of a provocateur who always put his own interests first and went to any lengths to preserve his image. al, 10 July 2022 Reading Sebald in a German context, and knowing his criticism as well as his fiction, yields a different picture: that of an incorrigible provocateur who never let the facts get in the way of a good anti-German polemic. Harper’s Magazine , 18 Jan. 2022 See More Word History First Known Use 1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing provocateur agent provocateur agent provocateur provocateur noun as in agitator 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 agitator firebrand rebel promoter demagogue inciter protester proponent supporter insurgent instigator rabble-rouser advocate reformer incendiary fomenter apostle demonstrator revolutionary demagog exciter subversive radical troublemaker kindler champion extremist protestor reformist provoker picketer revolutionist insurrectionist exponent booster marcher persuader alarmist objector agent provocateur prodder revolter prompter backer Antonyms & Near Antonyms peacemaker reconciler uniter
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provocateur

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing provocateur

noun