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provocateur

1 synonyms and 0 antonyms for provocateur, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — Someone who deliberately says or does things to stir up a reaction, argument, or controversy.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

agent provocateur

How to use provocateur

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

agent provocateur political provocateur

Etymology

Borrowed directly from French provocateur, "one who provokes," from the verb provoquer.

Full origin of provocateur →

Frequently asked questions

What does “provocateur” mean?

The word “provocateur” means someone who deliberately says or does things to stir up a reaction, argument, or controversy. In plain terms, a person who stirs up trouble or controversy on purpose, sometimes as an undercover tactic.

How do you use “provocateur” in a sentence?

Here is “provocateur” used in a sentence: “The columnist built his career as a provocateur, courting outrage with every article.”

What part of speech is “provocateur”?

“Provocateur” is a noun.

Where does the word “provocateur” come from?

The word “provocateur” comes from French. Borrowed directly from French provocateur, "one who provokes," from the verb provoquer.

How many meanings does “provocateur” have?

“Provocateur” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone who deliberately says or does things to stir up a reaction, argument, or controversy.

Related words

Nearby words

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.