1
as in to provoke
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
the medical breakthrough instigated a whole new field of therapy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to encourage
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of instigate
Moreno countered that the ruling party was silencing opposition voices and insisted Fernández Noroña had instigated the fight.
—
Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025
And on the day, Mike instigated it.
—Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Weeks after public calls for a White man who some say instigated the July 26 Downtown brawl to face charges, the 45-year-old has been charged with a low-level misdemeanor − and few seem satisfied.
—Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 22 Aug. 2025
The closure of the group page came after several formal complaints to Facebook’s owner Meta, instigated by the feminist activist and author Carolina Capria.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instigate
Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025
And on the day, Mike instigated it.
—Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Weeks after public calls for a White man who some say instigated the July 26 Downtown brawl to face charges, the 45-year-old has been charged with a low-level misdemeanor − and few seem satisfied.
—Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 22 Aug. 2025
The closure of the group page came after several formal complaints to Facebook’s owner Meta, instigated by the feminist activist and author Carolina Capria.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigate
Verb
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Gutman's comment have provoked backlash on social media, with some calling for him to be fired from his role.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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Prolonged isolation in detention can provoke psychological symptoms, including paranoia, PTSD and depression, that can lead to suicide, Peeler said.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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The Associated Press reported that Robinson’s father recognized his son from the images released by law enforcement, and then encouraged his son to turn himself in.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Rising pressure on Nvidia Huawei’s announcement comes as China promotes homegrown alternatives to Nvidia.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
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The turn of the century saw the advent of rhizobial soil inoculants for improving legume growth, with the FDA promoting such applications.—
Anna Marija Helt,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At the same time, playful responsiveness stimulates the vagus nerve, a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system linked to relaxation and safety.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Salmon Salmon is rich in omega-3 and vitamin D, and helps to stimulate collagen production within the skin.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigate. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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