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
State transportation officials said a crash instigated the backup, but airport leaders are still investigating why the gridlock was so extreme.
—
Hadley Hitson, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Sep. 2025
Obviously there is a spectrum to this response but the same pathway is instigated.
—Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
That instigated his resignation.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 2025
But instigated by the Saugus student section, Staub flipped the script that night in a 43-6 beatdown.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 11 Sep. 2025
Moreno countered that the ruling party was silencing opposition voices and insisted Fernández Noroña had instigated the fight.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025
And on the day, Mike instigated it.
—Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
The closure of the group page came after several formal complaints to Facebook’s owner Meta, instigated by the feminist activist and author Carolina Capria.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
Weeks after public calls for a White man who some say instigated the July 26 Downtown brawl to face charges, the 45-year-old has been charged with a low-level misdemeanor − and few seem satisfied.
—Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 22 Aug. 2025
Hadley Hitson, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Sep. 2025
Obviously there is a spectrum to this response but the same pathway is instigated.
—Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
That instigated his resignation.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 2025
But instigated by the Saugus student section, Staub flipped the script that night in a 43-6 beatdown.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 11 Sep. 2025
Moreno countered that the ruling party was silencing opposition voices and insisted Fernández Noroña had instigated the fight.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025
And on the day, Mike instigated it.
—Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
The closure of the group page came after several formal complaints to Facebook’s owner Meta, instigated by the feminist activist and author Carolina Capria.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
Weeks after public calls for a White man who some say instigated the July 26 Downtown brawl to face charges, the 45-year-old has been charged with a low-level misdemeanor − and few seem satisfied.
—Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigated
Verb
-
For director and co-writer Shinsuke Sato, a third season that moved beyond the main action of the manga allowed for greater freedom to explore the questions provoked by this Borderland reveal.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
-
One student told detectives that Clarke provoked the situation by making disparaging remarks at him.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Those who felt the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Her videos have generated an overwhelmingly positive response and she's been encouraged to keep spreading the word.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Trump fired Comey from the FBI leadership role in 2017, a move that triggered the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller and a wider DOJ investigation into the Republican's campaign contacts with Russia and Moscow's interference in the 2016 presidential election.—
Sudiksha Kochi,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
-
This shortage was exacerbated during the pandemic home-buying frenzy, when historically low mortgage rates triggered a surge in demand all across the country which brought prices up.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But dogs still need ways to burn off energy and stay mentally stimulated.—
Kelsey Monstrola,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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For example, one study found that breast cancer cell growth was stimulated by low concentrations of genistein and inhibited by higher concentrations.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instigated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigated. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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