provocateur

[ pruh-vok-uh-tur, -too r; French praw-vaw-ka-tœr ]

/ prəˌvɒk əˈtɜr, -ˈtʊər; French prɔ vɔ kaˈtœr /

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

(italics) French. agent provocateur.

Origin of provocateur

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

Lars von Trier, the terribly talented Danish provocateur, is quite a character.

Lars von Trier Breaks His Vow of Silence to Discuss ‘Nymphomaniac’ in Venice |Marlow Stern |September 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
These are the works of Ralph Steadman, legendary artist and provocateur.

The Gonzo Artist: Behind Ralph Steadman’s Most Famous Work |Alex Suskind |April 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
DONETSK, Ukraine—He reaches into his pocket to pull out a Ukrainian passport and opens it to prove he is no Russian provocateur.

Soccer Hooligans Prep Ukraine for Putin |Jamie Dettmer |March 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But if Correa has the provocateur's teeth, it's unclear whether he has the stomach for the part.

Ecuador Needs U.S. Aid. Will They Risk It All with Snowden? |Mac Margolis |June 26, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

So, it may surprise you to hear that talk-radio host and provocateur extraordinaire Mark Levin and I are in agreement.

Why Conservatives Should Be Rooting for Defense Cuts |Mark McKinnon |January 20, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
A few detectives had also managed to find their way here, and there was even one provocateur.

The Created Legend |Feodor Sologub
More than once the charge of being a provocateur was leveled at Lenine and at Trotzky, but without justification, apparently.

Bolshevism |John Spargo
You had to point out to them several times that it was Oswald who was the Castro provocateur, so to say, and not you?

Warren Commission (10 of 26): Hearings Vol. X (of 15) |The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
The tricked boys now swear vengeance upon the provocateur, but "Dutch" is missing from the range.

Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist |Alexander Berkman
The provocateur is rewarded with greater liberty and special privileges.

Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist |Alexander Berkman

provocateur

/ (prəˌvɒkəˈtɜː) /

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