agent provocateur

IPA/ˌæʒɒ̃ prəˌvɒkəˈtɜː(r)/
IPA/ˌɑːʒɑ̃ː prəʊˌvɑːkəˈtɜːr/

agent provocateur — 名詞

1. someone who deliberately says or does things that start arguments or upset peopl

1.名詞C1
釋義

挑事者

故意挑起爭論、惹人不快的人

someone who deliberately says or does things that start arguments or upset people, often because they enjoy the reaction

例句

Christopher plays the agent provocateur on every panel show to keep viewers arguing.

Christopher 在每場談話節目裡都扮演挑事者，讓觀眾一直吵下去。

play the agent provocateur to provoke reactions

Defne became the office agent provocateur by mocking every new rule.

Defne 靠著嘲弄每一條新規定，成了辦公室裡的挑事者。

agent provocateur in a workplace conflict

同義詞
  • troublemaker

    broader everyday word for someone who causes problems; it does not always imply deliberate provocation as a role

  • instigator

    emphasizes starting conflict or pushing others into action, not necessarily enjoying the reaction

  • troll

    usually belongs to online settings and suggests attention-seeking through provocative comments

反義詞
  • peacemaker

    someone who tries to calm conflict instead of stirring it up

文法句型

an + agent provocateur

act as the agent provocateur

用法筆記

Often used in journalism, politics, or everyday criticism for someone who keeps provoking reactions in a group. Unlike sense 2, this use does not imply secret work with police or a plan to cause arrests.

常見錯誤

❌My brother was an agent provocateur because he disagreed with me about the film.
✅My brother just disagreed with me about the film.
💡The phrase suggests deliberate provocation, not ordinary disagreement.

2. a person working secretly for the police or government who pushes others in a gr

2.名詞C2
釋義

誘捕密探

暗中煽動他人犯法以便逮捕的人

a person working secretly for the police or government who pushes others in a group to break the law, so they can then be arrested

例句

Police sent an agent provocateur into the crowd before the march.

警方在遊行前派了一名誘捕密探混入人群。

send in an agent provocateur before a protest

The union leader warned that an agent provocateur had joined the night meeting.

工會領袖警告說，夜間會議裡混進了一名誘捕密探。

同義詞
  • infiltrator

    emphasizes entering a group secretly; it does not by itself mean pushing people to commit crimes

  • instigator

    covers provoking action, but lacks the hidden political or police role

  • informant

    someone who secretly gives information; an agent provocateur goes further by actively encouraging illegal acts

文法句型

an + agent provocateur

send in an agent provocateur

用法筆記

Common in reports about protests, extremist groups, and undercover policing. Unlike sense 1, this meaning involves a hidden role and pressure to commit a punishable act.

常見錯誤

❌The plain-clothes officer at the gate was an agent provocateur.
✅The plain-clothes officer who urged the crowd to attack the van was an agent provocateur.
💡The term requires secret incitement, not simply being undercover.