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 real-life friends instigated the project and serve as producers, with their obvious glee in playing off each other adding greatly to the enjoyment.
—
Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
Verse said Thursday that former Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht instigated the demonstration.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
In a separate footnote, Mastro even claimed Oakley’s attorney may have instigated the DOI’s review of his MSG work.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
The vice president was responding to a civil liberties attorney who had said video showed that immigration officers instigated the confrontation with Good.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
Green’s attorneys had previously said that their client was waiting for food at the taqueria when an unknown man instigated a fight.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Not for Elliss, but Giants tight end Theo Johnson who instigated a fight on the sideline and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 2 Dec. 2025
During the war, Zelensky has fired a slew of senior Ukrainian officials over corruption allegations, and his government has instigated anti-corruption measures, including the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 28 Nov. 2025
Greene said her decision was motivated by the desire to spare her district from a contentious and divisive primary challenge instigated by the president.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
Verse said Thursday that former Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht instigated the demonstration.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
In a separate footnote, Mastro even claimed Oakley’s attorney may have instigated the DOI’s review of his MSG work.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
The vice president was responding to a civil liberties attorney who had said video showed that immigration officers instigated the confrontation with Good.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
Green’s attorneys had previously said that their client was waiting for food at the taqueria when an unknown man instigated a fight.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Not for Elliss, but Giants tight end Theo Johnson who instigated a fight on the sideline and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 2 Dec. 2025
During the war, Zelensky has fired a slew of senior Ukrainian officials over corruption allegations, and his government has instigated anti-corruption measures, including the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 28 Nov. 2025
Greene said her decision was motivated by the desire to spare her district from a contentious and divisive primary challenge instigated by the president.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigated
Verb
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Here are some of the Republicans who have provoked the President’s ire.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
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The statement doesn’t even mention Renee Good and Alex Pretti, whose killing finally provoked the Chamber’s members to speak out.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But Flint encouraged people to attend the commissioners’ court meeting and speak against the Comanche Circle proposal.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
-
All retailers are being encouraged to honor customer claims.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The internet and Black art triggered awe for completely different, profound reasons.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
That violation should have triggered a license revocation, but it was found to have never happened.—
Megan De Mar,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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These channels are tuned to trigger a voltage spike and tell the trap to close only if stimulated multiple times in rapid succession.—
Elise Cutts,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Jan. 2026
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Many contests maintain that the frogs can be stimulated humanely to jump, such as someone blowing on them or clapping their hands behind them.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
26 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instigated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigated. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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