Provoke [/prəˈvəʊk/ ] verb (transitive) to provoke, anger or infuriate to incite Provocateur [pruh-vok-uh-tur, -too r; French praw-vaw-ka-tœr] noun, plural provocateurs 1. a person who provokes trouble, causes dissension; agitator (italics) French. agent provocateur 1915 Shortened form of agent provocateur “person hired to make trouble” (1845)