instigate

verb

in·sti·gate ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgāt How to pronounce instigate (audio)

instigated; instigating

transitive verb

: to goad or urge forward : provoke

instigation

ˌin(t)-stə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce instigate (audio)

noun

instigative

ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgā-tiv How to pronounce instigate (audio)

adjective

instigator

ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgā-tər How to pronounce instigate (audio)

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.

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

单词	instigator
释义	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 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. instigator noun as in proponent a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent an instigator who always managed to be innocently standing by once the fighting began Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance proponent inciter supporter promoter advocate rebel fomenter agitator provocateur firebrand demonstrator apostle protester insurgent demagogue exciter incendiary kindler rabble-rouser revolutionary reformer demagog champion provoker troublemaker objector exponent protestor radical booster reformist picketer marcher extremist subversive insurrectionist persuader alarmist revolutionist prompter backer prodder agent provocateur revolter Antonyms & Near Antonyms peacemaker reconciler uniter
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instigate

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

noun