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
Grynsztejn instigated Marshall’s survey herself, in a hands-on move not typical of most museum directors.
—
News Desk, Artforum, 17 Mar. 2026
The attacks have instigated not just flight restrictions, but closures of swaths of airspace.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Playing off the conceptual revolution instigated by Duchamp (via Piero Manzoni and Maurizio Cattelan), Johnson’s tasty-looking treat lightens the mood and lets a viewer know to expect the unexpected in the galleries to follow.
—Benjamin Lima
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Jayden Nelson shines in his Austin FC debut New signing Jayden Nelson instigated most of that positive play.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
In this moment, there’s a lot of conversations that are being surfaced at the table that strangely, were instigated around immigration policy and policing.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
O’Hara is a police chief pushed past his limits, struggling to quell violence instigated by federal law enforcement.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
In a 2019 chat with RuPaul, Lake said that witnessing planes flying into the World Trade Center on 9/11 was what instigated her desire to stop hosting.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
In Anaheim last Sunday, photo and video evidence documented a violent confrontation instigated by ICE during a car wash raid.
—Jody Agius Vallejo, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
News Desk, Artforum, 17 Mar. 2026
The attacks have instigated not just flight restrictions, but closures of swaths of airspace.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Playing off the conceptual revolution instigated by Duchamp (via Piero Manzoni and Maurizio Cattelan), Johnson’s tasty-looking treat lightens the mood and lets a viewer know to expect the unexpected in the galleries to follow.
—Benjamin Lima
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Jayden Nelson shines in his Austin FC debut New signing Jayden Nelson instigated most of that positive play.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
In this moment, there’s a lot of conversations that are being surfaced at the table that strangely, were instigated around immigration policy and policing.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
O’Hara is a police chief pushed past his limits, struggling to quell violence instigated by federal law enforcement.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
In a 2019 chat with RuPaul, Lake said that witnessing planes flying into the World Trade Center on 9/11 was what instigated her desire to stop hosting.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
In Anaheim last Sunday, photo and video evidence documented a violent confrontation instigated by ICE during a car wash raid.
—Jody Agius Vallejo, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigated
Verb
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The standouts unsettled, provoked and occasionally disoriented, often in the same breath.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The changes have provoked criticism from Democrats, who have accused the president of trying to weaponize the arts for political purposes.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some players encouraged the 49ers to investigate, but Lynch noted that it was not broached by anyone who joined the team in the past few weeks since free agency opened, including wide receiver Mike Evans.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
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Students should be encouraged to think historically, Zavala said, and to approach larger themes of colonization, erasure, power and to reflect on the way movements are shaped and the contradictions that occur within them.—
Kristy Hutchings,
Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered an extraordinary energy pivot across Europe.—
Derek Chollet,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
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Sensors will be mounted on poles, which CDOT says can be triggered by vehicles as well as pedestrian and bicycle traffic.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
-
Olson eventually found a substance that did not seem to be hallucinogenic but potently stimulated growth in the cortical neurons of rodents.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instigated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigated. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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