3

I was wondering if there is a word used to describe someone who starts arguments just because they get enjoyment/satisfaction out of it. And I don't mean a friendly debate I mean actual arguments, like a fight. I feel like there is a word for it but I can't think of it and if there is no word then I am going to make one for it :). P.S. "Devil's Advocate" is not the word I am looking for.

englishman66
  • 59
  • 4
    argumentative – Drew Mar 03 '17 at 01:16
  • An “argument clinician” especially those who argue on their spare time. – Jim Mar 03 '17 at 02:25
  • An instigator – fixer1234 Mar 03 '17 at 02:27
  • Are you looking for a noun or an adjective? We'll get closer to your meaning if you edit in an example sentence of where you'd use the word, with a ___ where the word would go. If you're open to adjectives, there are a lot to choose from—belligerent, pugnacious, contentious, combative, fighty, etc.—so you might want to add more details to help narrow it down. – 1006a Mar 03 '17 at 03:01
  • One suitable noun might be controversialist — one who is fond of or given to controversy or disputation, according to both Merriam-Webster and American Heritage dictionaries. – Sven Yargs Mar 03 '17 at 04:49
  • 1
    obnoxious or better yet, asshole. – Alaska Man Mar 03 '17 at 06:05
  • I've always called these people "shit-disturbers," but I've never needed to upgrade it to a more formal or professional context. According to Wiktionary, it's Canadian slang. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shit_disturber – OperaticSkeleton Mar 03 '17 at 09:34

5 Answers5

3

I'll tell you what I use.

See firebrand defined by Merriam Webster as

one that creates unrest or strife (as in aggressively promoting a cause)

There are also simple words such as agitator, trouble maker, rabble-rouser.

Community
  • 1
vickyace
  • 14,859
1

It may not quite be the word you are looking for, but pretty close...

Pugnacious.

It means inclined to quarrel or fight readily; quarrelsome.

displayName
  • 1,899
1

A contrarian is someone who takes an opposing view, especially for the sake of being difficult, contentious or in opposition to the generally held view.

Coleen
  • 11
  • Welcome to English Language and Usage. Please take the [tour] and when you have a moment, read-up in the [help] about how we work. A good first post which would benefit from linked references to support your claim. – Jiminy Cricket. Apr 07 '20 at 20:15
1

A provocateur is:

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

according to dictionary.com.

There is a lively discussion of the etymology at Did Emma Goldman first use the term “provocateur”?.

rajah9
  • 16,242
0

That would be a disputatious person. As Merriam-Webster explains

Disputatious people like to provoke arguments or find something to disagree about.

and it defines disputatious as

1a: inclined to dispute

b: marked by disputation

2: provoking debate : CONTROVERSIAL

auspicious99
  • 1,485
  • 10
  • 17