1
as in provokes
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 encourages
to rouse to strong feeling or action
the charge that the scene in the movie had instigated teenagers to commit similar acts of vandalism
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of instigates
Von then explains that drinking instigates the desire to do coke.
—
Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigates
Verb
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Criticism triggers defensiveness; defensiveness fuels contempt; contempt provokes stonewalling.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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After a sleepy start to the second half at Old Trafford, the arrival of Benjamin Sesko, and the relocation of Cunha into a deeper position, provokes a fresh wave of interest.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Combined, the ingredients are a powerhouse that encourages surface skin cell turnover to give complexions an overall smooth, supple appearance.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
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Through speculative thinking and the power of the arts, this collection encourages us to see ourselves outside of the constraints that persist today.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Digestive Support Turmeric helps stimulate bile production in the gallbladder, which promotes fat digestion.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 2025
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According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide, at least 197 journalists and media workers were killed during the war; 189 of them were Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The chemical targets a different system in the brain than standard antidepressants, triggering the release of glutamate, which stimulates the growth of new synapses between brain cells.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
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Vähäsarja vigorously rubbed some cups on Landers’s back—cupping creates a vacuum and stimulates blood flow—and turned the whole thing bright pink.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instigates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigates. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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