provocateur

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This is the director’s first film, and you sense him working in the same mode as early Yorgos Lanthimos before the Greek provocateur felt confident that a charismatic performance wouldn’t overshadow his script.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026

In the early days of Monday Night Football, Howard Cosell, the original sports media provocateur, often griped about former NFL players leaving the field and walking into the booth.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2025

Reckzeh had been set up as a spy and agent provocateur by the Gestapo: Thadden had been fooled by his elaborately constructed cover story.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

Right-wing provocateur Dinesh D’Souza — an Indian-American who was raised Catholic but became a born-again Christian — has also faced racist attacks.

From Salon • Oct. 21, 2025

Coleman is a classicist who studied at Oxford and a former consultant for McKinsey & Company who clearly enjoys his role as a provocateur.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove