1
as in provoked
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 encouraged
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 instigated
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office alleged Peters instigated a fight between his girlfriend, Violet Lentz, 24, and a 19-year-old influencer in February at a short-term rental in Kissimmee, Fla.
—
Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
The demonstrations have been primarily instigated by farmers, agricultural contractors and road haulage operators, who are upset with the government’s response to the spike in fuel prices since the onset of the Iran war.
—Michael Considine, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
No angry, in-your-face, Twitter-like battles were instigated.
—Aaron Everitt, STAT, 10 Apr. 2026
Police have said Lil Tjay instigated a confrontation with Offset and his entourage in the lead-up to the gunfire.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
Monday was far from the first time there were moves to get Lively and Baldoni to solve the December 2024 instigated legal matter without the drama of a trial.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Apr. 2026
The best example of a meaningful boycott is the one instigated by Black citizens against the Montgomery bus system.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
In the 1970s, the world of the watch was undergoing a revolution that even those who instigated it could scarcely understand.
—David Szondy
march 28, New Atlas, 28 Mar. 2026
The arrest arose out of an altercation that Peters had instigated last month between two women at an Airbnb, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
The demonstrations have been primarily instigated by farmers, agricultural contractors and road haulage operators, who are upset with the government’s response to the spike in fuel prices since the onset of the Iran war.
—Michael Considine, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
No angry, in-your-face, Twitter-like battles were instigated.
—Aaron Everitt, STAT, 10 Apr. 2026
Police have said Lil Tjay instigated a confrontation with Offset and his entourage in the lead-up to the gunfire.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
Monday was far from the first time there were moves to get Lively and Baldoni to solve the December 2024 instigated legal matter without the drama of a trial.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Apr. 2026
The best example of a meaningful boycott is the one instigated by Black citizens against the Montgomery bus system.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
In the 1970s, the world of the watch was undergoing a revolution that even those who instigated it could scarcely understand.
—David Szondy
march 28, New Atlas, 28 Mar. 2026
The arrest arose out of an altercation that Peters had instigated last month between two women at an Airbnb, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigated
Verb
-
This allegedly provoked a verbal altercation between Patterson and the two customers.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
His capture provoked at least eight highway blockades by criminal groups on the highways surrounding the border city of Reynosa.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Behavior that had long been tolerated, if not encouraged, would no longer be accepted.—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
-
This paper editorialized in support of that petition and encouraged the state’s attorney to voluntarily step aside.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The United Nations Development Programme reports that higher energy prices, disrupted food systems, and economic slowdowns triggered by the war could push up to thirty-two million people globally into poverty.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
-
While the legislature required most involuntary tows from apartments to be triggered by specific complaints, residents said towing companies are continuing to patrol public housing and low-income apartment complexes and tow cars for minor violations.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When people spend long periods in activities that require very little mental effort, those pathways may not be stimulated in the same way.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The induced impact of our cast and crew spending along with the workers along the supply chain in turn stimulated even more economic growth.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instigated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigated. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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