provocateur

[pruh-vok-uh-tur, -toor, praw-vaw-ka-tœr]

noun

plural

provocateurs 

1. a person who provokes trouble, causes dissension, or the like; agitator.

2. (italics),  agent provocateur.

provocateur

/ prəˌvɒkəˈtɜː /

noun

1. a person who deliberately behaves controversially in order to provoke argument or other strong reactions

Word History and Origins

Origin of provocateur¹

1915–20; < French < Latin prōvocātor challenger, appellant, equivalent to provocā ( re ) to provoke + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

But last Friday Russia criticised Western proposals as "one-sided and clearly designed to contain Russia", adding that it turned Kyiv into a "strategic provocateur".

From BBC

For a provocateur like Aster, who has made a name for himself decapitating teenagers and giving audiences a front row seat to ritual solstice suicides, peak COVID-era chaos almost seems like low-hanging fruit.

From Salon

And the teenage provocateur made no secret of that revulsion, loudly belittling his fellow students.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, federal authorities are hiding, apparently too frightened of online provocateurs and in-person hecklers to do their duty in plain sight.

From Los Angeles Times

But most Republicans remained silent, or accused Padilla of being a provocateur.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anarchist 
• demagogue 
• firebrand 
• malcontent 
• propagandist 
• protestor www.thesaurus.com
• radical 
• troublemaker 
• zealot