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
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 instigate
Edmonton instigated a line brawl while down 5-1 in the third period, and the Florida Panthers appeared to win every fight, putting an exclamation point on their eventual 6-1 win in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
—
Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2025
The Chelsea forward instigated an England goal on the quarter-hour mark which was eventually disallowed.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 6 July 2025
However, prosecutors argued that Marks instigated the road rage and eye-witness accounts consistently stated that the unarmed Stamates never entered the car.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
The move back to New York also instigated a transition to take place in Straus’ professional life.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for instigate
Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2025
The Chelsea forward instigated an England goal on the quarter-hour mark which was eventually disallowed.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 6 July 2025
However, prosecutors argued that Marks instigated the road rage and eye-witness accounts consistently stated that the unarmed Stamates never entered the car.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
The move back to New York also instigated a transition to take place in Straus’ professional life.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for instigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigate
Verb
-
Under the supervision of experts, Paul provokes sharks to attack him in multiple scenarios.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
-
While not classified among the FDA's nine major allergens, sulfites can trigger severe reactions in sensitive individuals and may provoke asthma attacks in up to 10 percent of people with asthma.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
Verb
-
Community members are encouraged to see the stadium before the start of the 2025 football season.—
Katie Nixon,
The Tennessean,
25 July 2025
-
During his latter stint on the council, Spelman called on Austin police to reevaluate how officers spent their time and encouraged the city to consider alternative programs to reduce crime.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
The organization aims to promote local music, art and live experiences that drive community, culture and tourism.—
Mars Salazar,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
-
Ads have popped up around NYC promoting Roan’s next single, teasing an August 1st release date.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
The bill follows advocacy efforts by TKO, the parent company of UFC and WWE, to stimulate interest in Congress for creating more and better professional opportunities for boxers in the U.S.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 July 2025
-
But policymakers have so far avoided the mass cash handouts that the U.S. and Hong Kong gave residents to stimulate spending after the pandemic.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigate. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share