as in provocative
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instigating
ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Some of its members and those of some of its sister organizations have been implicated in – or accused of - instigating attacks against India's Muslim and Christian minorities.
—Rob Schmitz, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
Peters was also arrested earlier this year on misdemeanor battery charges after reportedly instigating a fight between two women and exploiting them by posting the footage online.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 15 Apr. 2026
Reps for Prince Harry, who is no stranger to instigating court moves himself or showing up in the High Court, were equally blunt in their response to the blunt accusations.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2026
Hitting, fighting, penalty killing, chirping, instigating, leading — all of the intangibles Hathaway brings were invaluable to the culture that the organization has been attempting to methodically build.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
The kind of instigating prompt was my former teacher, the author Lydia Yuknavitch, asking where the rage lived in my work, because Long Live was so much about forgiveness and tenderness and understanding.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
Massie has had a contentious relationship with GOP leaders, often voting against priority legislation and instigating the release of the Epstein files, which Trump had long opposed.
—Dan Mangan,garrett Downs,spencer Kimball,megan Sauer, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
The film, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival, shows LaBeouf berating actors and crew members, instigating a fistfight and engaging in other aggressive behavior.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
The French president warned against instigating panic with talk about fuel shortages as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz from which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Some of its members and those of some of its sister organizations have been implicated in – or accused of - instigating attacks against India's Muslim and Christian minorities.
—Rob Schmitz, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
Peters was also arrested earlier this year on misdemeanor battery charges after reportedly instigating a fight between two women and exploiting them by posting the footage online.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 15 Apr. 2026
Reps for Prince Harry, who is no stranger to instigating court moves himself or showing up in the High Court, were equally blunt in their response to the blunt accusations.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2026
Hitting, fighting, penalty killing, chirping, instigating, leading — all of the intangibles Hathaway brings were invaluable to the culture that the organization has been attempting to methodically build.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
The kind of instigating prompt was my former teacher, the author Lydia Yuknavitch, asking where the rage lived in my work, because Long Live was so much about forgiveness and tenderness and understanding.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
Massie has had a contentious relationship with GOP leaders, often voting against priority legislation and instigating the release of the Epstein files, which Trump had long opposed.
—Dan Mangan,garrett Downs,spencer Kimball,megan Sauer, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
The film, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival, shows LaBeouf berating actors and crew members, instigating a fistfight and engaging in other aggressive behavior.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigating
Adjective
-
So, could this be the goal of this provocative collaboration?—
Clara Ludmir,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Both men were hospitalized after the shooting; community members describe Eatherly as someone whose provocative actions have intensified tensions and dangerous confrontations.—
Kristin M. Hall,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
On May 18, Venus will conclude its journey through the flirtatious and thought-provoking sign of Gemini and enter the sentimental and hopeless romantic sign of Cancer.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
-
The neighborhood’s creative spirit shines at Cam Raleigh, a dynamic contemporary art space with thought-provoking works rooted in community and regional narratives.—
Kristy Tolley,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
There were also fans of nearby college teams cheering on their guys, plus some participants’ encouraging families.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
There had been encouraging noises on a pursuit for the Brazilian, but the longer the summer went on, the colder the trail grew.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
At a charged political moment, her relatively sober look seemed intended to keep the focus on POTUS.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
12 Dec. 2025
-
What Happens Next Greene is likely to continue stoking controversy by breaking with her party, as conversations around immigration remain charged and divisive.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Screen Brasil reaffirms Embratur’s role in promoting the country internationally and expanding the international reach of Brazilian productions.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
18 May 2026
-
On Sunday, the league posted a social media graphic promoting its doubleheader on NBC/Peacock.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
This could be the postprandial transmission of the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, which signals fullness to the brain, or oestrogen from the ovaries, which is sent to pubertal breast tissue, stimulating it to grow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
For CEOs, CHROs, and transformation leads wrestling with AI disruption, hybrid work, and unrelenting competition, The Octopus Organization is stimulating reading.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
However, in April 2025, the government broke the news that a license would be required for exports of Nvidia's H20 products in the China market, triggering an automatic adjustment to the goals.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
Now the Iran war has heaped fresh pressure on those businesses, choking critical shipping lanes, triggering a historic energy shock, and threatening to crimp global demand for Chinese goods across the board.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The governing body said the show would support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is raising $100 million to help children access education and soccer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
-
Israel’s national security minister inflamed the situation with a provocative visit to the contested Al Aqsa Mosque compound, raising concerns about Jerusalem’s status in the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instigating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigating. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
