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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of instigate
These unhappy, land-hungry Colonists clamored for expansion, instigating a series of wars against both the French and Spanish empires for control of the northeastern half of the continent, culminating in the French and Indian War, from 1754 to 1763.
—
G. Patrick O'Brien, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025
Having revealed their mettle by simply getting to New York, they’re neither limited by policy nor the circumstances that instigated their migration to begin with.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
In reality, no one involved, including Bryant’s wife, Carolyn—whose lie about an encounter with Till instigated the murder of the teenager—would face justice.
—Elon Green, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2025
This revelation resonated with many maskers and instigated a shift in the culture fueled by intellectual and historical curiosity.
—Harriet Shepherd, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instigate
G. Patrick O'Brien, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025
Having revealed their mettle by simply getting to New York, they’re neither limited by policy nor the circumstances that instigated their migration to begin with.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
In reality, no one involved, including Bryant’s wife, Carolyn—whose lie about an encounter with Till instigated the murder of the teenager—would face justice.
—Elon Green, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2025
This revelation resonated with many maskers and instigated a shift in the culture fueled by intellectual and historical curiosity.
—Harriet Shepherd, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigate
Verb
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Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House that the administration maintained confidence in Waltz and said the case was effectively closed, even as the breach provoked bipartisan criticism and opened up divisions inside the White House.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2025
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As an abstraction and comparison machine, Pronouns provokes anxiety, getting at the dangers of correlation.—
Mara Mills,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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To bring in more visitors, Katsuo-ji came up with a creative way to encourage tourists to engage with the Daruma dolls.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
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In the locker room afterward, Staley encouraged players to feel the emotions of defeat, but also to hold their heads up.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In a social media post Sunday, Kennedy promoted two such practitioners who have become popular in West Texas among vaccine-hesitant families: Ben Edwards and Richard Bartlett.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 Apr. 2025
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Musk responded to an X user who shared a video of Navarro promoting tariffs.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Access to the leaves will stimulate scientific research that will objectively assess coca’s medical and therapeutic potential and benefits, with the ultimate goal of making available for all people a plant that promises to improve their well-being and ease the day-to-day challenges of their lives.—
Wade Davis,
Rolling Stone,
6 Apr. 2025
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As the moon and Mars collide, rushing toward your future stimulates unnecessary stress.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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