instigate

play

verb in·sti·gate \ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgāt\

Definition of instigate

instigated

;

instigating

transitive verb
: to goad or urge forward : provoke

instigation

play \ˌin(t)-stə-ˈgā-shən\ noun

instigative

play \ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgā-tiv\ adjective

instigator

play \ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgā-tər\ noun

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Examples of instigate in a Sentence

There has been an increase in the amount of violence instigated by gangs.
The government has instigated an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Recent Examples of instigate from the Web

But prosecutors didn’t file charges, saying in those cases, it’s unclear who instigated the fighting.

— the associated press, The Seattle Times, "Anti-Trump protester charged with battery in California", 2 June 2017
Your green strategies in your daily life can have a small impact, but the whole planet has to be on board for dealing with climate change in order to instigate global effects.

— tricia escobedo and liz landau, CNN, "5 things you can do about climate change", 2 June 2017
The inmate who instigated the ordeal had been on suicide watch at the jail and was receiving medical treatment at the hospital, according to the lawsuit.

— hannah leone, chicagotribune.com, "More nurses join Delnor hostage standoff lawsuit", 1 June 2017
During a fight, one of the mothers of one of the females can be seen instigating the fight and kicking one of the females in the head.

— Washington Post, "Crime report for Anne Arundel and Howard counties and for Annapolis", 31 May 2017
One opponent of the statue, Amy Maxwell, said that people from both groups were carrying handguns, and at one point someone snatched the Confederate flag and ran off, instigating a chase from the pro-monument group.

— julie bosman, New York Times, "Few in St. Louis Knew Confederate Memorial Existed. Now, Many Want It Gone.", 26 May 2017
A spokesman for Gianforte accused Jacobs of instigating the tussle.

— mark z. barabak, latimes.com, "Montana's congressional election: That assault charge, the Trump factor, and why is it on a weird day (Thursday)?", 25 May 2017
Instigate a flame war with the guy in seat 3B. Hack into pilot radio communications.

— wired staff, WIRED, "Electric Word", 1 Aug. 1996

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'instigate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Instigate is often used as a synonym of incite (as in "hoodlums instigating violence"), but the two words differ slightly in their overall usage. Incite usually stresses an act of stirring something up that one did not necessarily initiate ("the court's decision incited riots"). Instigate implies responsibility for initiating or encouraging someone else's action and usually suggests dubious or underhanded intent ("he was charged with instigating a conspiracy"). Another similar word, foment, implies causing something by means of persistent goading ("the leader's speeches fomented a rebellion"). Deriving from the past participle of the Latin verb instigare, instigate first appeared in English in the mid-16th century, approximately 60 years after incite and about 70 years before foment.

Origin and Etymology of instigate

Latin instigatus, past participle of instigare — more at stick

First Known Use: 1542

Synonym Discussion of instigate

incite, instigate, abet, foment mean to spur to action. incite stresses a stirring up and urging on, and may or may not imply initiating. inciting a riot instigate definitely implies responsibility for initiating another's action and often connotes underhandedness or evil intention. instigated a conspiracy abet implies both assisting and encouraging. aiding and abetting the enemy foment implies persistence in goading. fomenting rebellion