instigate
verb
in·sti·gate ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgāt 
instigated; instigating
transitive verb
: to goad or urge forward : provoke
instigation
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈgā-shən
noun instigative
ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgā-tiv
adjective instigator
ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgā-tər
noun 
Did you know?
Instigate is often used as a synonym of incite (as in "hoodlums instigating violence"), but the two words differ slightly in their overall usage. Incite usually stresses an act of stirring something up that one did not necessarily initiate ("the court's decision incited riots"). Instigate implies responsibility for initiating or encouraging someone else's action and usually suggests dubious or underhanded intent ("he was charged with instigating a conspiracy"). Another similar word, foment, implies causing something by means of persistent goading ("the leader's speeches fomented a rebellion"). Deriving from the past participle of the Latin verb instigare, instigate stepped into English in the 16th century, after incite and ahead of foment.
Synonyms
- abet
- brew
- ferment
- foment
- incite
- pick
- provoke
- raise
- stir (up)
- whip (up)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
There has been an increase in the amount of violence instigated by gangs. The government has instigated an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Recent Examples on the Web But do instigate a discussion (or several) to see if any compromise or change can be made here. 
Anna Pulley, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2022 The gist is that some people seek to get hired into a firm to initiate or instigate the establishment of AI Ethics principles in the company. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022 Mark Levin, the talk radio host, scoffed at the notion that Mr. Trump had tried to overturn the election or instigate an insurrection. New York Times, 24 July 2022 Target Workers Unite is hoping to instigate exactly that kind of national spread. Bryce Covert, The New Republic, 10 May 2022 Democratic lawyer Michael Sussmann is charged with lying to the FBI to instigate an investigation into fanciful evidence about computer links between Russia’s Alfa bank, the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 3 May 2022 Critics also have accused him of helping instigate the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2022 Randy Orton finessed his way out of a match against The Usos only to instigate a bait-and-switch where The Usos faced off against The Street Profits. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 12 Apr. 2022 By de-clutching the inside rear wheel, the system can effectively direct the rearward torque to the outside wheel, helping to mitigate understeer or instigate the aforementioned drifting antics in the RS Performance drive mode. James Tate, Car and Driver, 1 June 2022 See More
Anna Pulley, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2022 The gist is that some people seek to get hired into a firm to initiate or instigate the establishment of AI Ethics principles in the company. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022 Mark Levin, the talk radio host, scoffed at the notion that Mr. Trump had tried to overturn the election or instigate an insurrection. New York Times, 24 July 2022 Target Workers Unite is hoping to instigate exactly that kind of national spread. Bryce Covert, The New Republic, 10 May 2022 Democratic lawyer Michael Sussmann is charged with lying to the FBI to instigate an investigation into fanciful evidence about computer links between Russia’s Alfa bank, the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 3 May 2022 Critics also have accused him of helping instigate the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2022 Randy Orton finessed his way out of a match against The Usos only to instigate a bait-and-switch where The Usos faced off against The Street Profits. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 12 Apr. 2022 By de-clutching the inside rear wheel, the system can effectively direct the rearward torque to the outside wheel, helping to mitigate understeer or instigate the aforementioned drifting antics in the RS Performance drive mode. James Tate, Car and Driver, 1 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin instigatus, past participle of instigare — more at stick
First Known Use
1542, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
instigate
verb
in·sti·gate ˈin-stə-ˌgāt
instigated; instigating
: to cause to happen or begin
He instigated the fight.
instigating 1 of 2
adjective
as in charged
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction an artist who deliberately creates instigating works of art that are sure to arouse controversy Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- charged
- provocative
- provoking
- inciting
- motivating
- motivational
- stimulating
- instigative
- exciting
- triggering
- inducing
- motivative
- piquing
- inflammatory
- activating
- inspiring
- edgy
- taunting
- explosive
- incendiary
- teasing
- galvanizing
- jeering
- upsetting
- energizing
- quickening
- inspirational
- aggravating
- vitalizing
- annoying
- exasperating
- maddening
- enraging
- fiery
- angering
- irritating
- vexatious
- vexing
- pesky
- irksome
- bothersome
- galling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- noninflammatory
- subduing
instigating
2 of 2verb
1
as in provoking
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being the medical breakthrough instigated a whole new field of therapy Synonyms & Similar Words
- provoking
- promoting
- triggering
- raising
- fomenting
- inciting
- encouraging
- abetting
- stimulating
- picking
- brewing
- fermenting
- cultivating
- furthering
- fostering
- stimulating
- forwarding
- motivating
- nurturing
- detonating
- advancing
- sowing
- setting in motion
- inspiring
- stirring (up)
- whipping (up)
- activating
- inflaming
- rousing
- nourishing
- galvanizing
- setting
- exciting
- energizing
- setting off
- enlivening
- firing
- quickening
- invigorating
- vitalizing
- enflaming
- jazzing (up)
- pepping (up)
- livening (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- regulating
- restraining
- holding
- curbing
- inhibiting
- checking
- constraining
- discouraging
- taming
- subduing
- settling
- quieting
- bridling
- calming
- allaying
- soothing
- stilling
- reining (in)
- tranquilizing
- tranquillizing
2
as in encouraging
to rouse to strong feeling or action the charge that the scene in the movie had instigated teenagers to commit similar acts of vandalism Synonyms & Similar Words
- provoking
- encouraging
- stimulating
- inciting
- stirring
- sparking
- moving
- inspiring
- arousing
- motivating
- inducing
- triggering
- driving
- exciting
- igniting
- fomenting
- activating
- piquing
- fanning
- inflaming
- impassioning
- motiving
- galvanizing
- animating
- bothering
- angering
- abetting
- revving (up)
- energizing
- firing (up)
- quickening
- building a fire under
- enraging
- kindling
- teasing
- taunting
- vitalizing
- raising
- fermenting
- upsetting
- enflaming
- getting
- setting off
- jeering
- aggravating
- maddening
- irritating
- pumping up
- exasperating
- annoying
- vexing
- keying (up)
- galling
- whipping (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- subduing
- calming
- soothing
- pacifying
- placating
- appeasing
- tranquilizing
- mollifying
- tranquillizing