Synonyms of instigating

instigating 1 of 2

adjective

as in provocative

serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction

an artist who deliberately creates instigating works of art that are sure to arouse controversy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provocative
• charged
• provoking
• motivating
• motivational
• exciting
• inciting
• stimulating
• instigative
• triggering
• motivative
• inducing
• inflammatory
• piquing
• edgy
• explosive
• inspiring
• incendiary
• activating
• teasing
• inspirational
• upsetting
• fiery
• energizing
• aggravating
• quickening
• annoying
• taunting
• vitalizing
• maddening
• irritating
• exasperating
• vexatious
• galvanizing
• vexing
• jeering
• bothersome
• irksome
• pesky
• enraging
• angering
• galling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• noninflammatory
• subduing

instigating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of instigate

1

as in provoking

to bring (something volatile or intense) into being

the medical breakthrough instigated a whole new field of therapy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provoking
• promoting
• triggering
• raising
• encouraging
• fomenting
• inciting
• abetting
• picking
• stimulating
• fermenting
• brewing
• cultivating
• stirring (up)
• whipping (up)
• furthering
• fostering
• setting in motion
• forwarding
• motivating
• advancing
• detonating
• nurturing
• sowing
• inspiring
• activating
• nourishing
• rousing
• galvanizing
• inflaming
• exciting
• setting
• setting off
• energizing
• enlivening
• firing
• quickening
• invigorating
• vitalizing
• livening (up)
• jazzing (up)
• pepping (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• regulating
• restraining
• holding
• checking
• curbing
• inhibiting
• constraining
• discouraging
• taming
• settling
• subduing
• quieting
• calming
• soothing
• bridling
• reining (in)
• allaying
• stilling
• tranquilizing

2

as in encouraging

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

• provoking
• encouraging
• stimulating
• stirring
• inciting
• sparking
• moving
• arousing
• inspiring
• motivating
• inducing
• triggering
• exciting
• driving
• firing (up)
• revving (up)
• igniting
• fomenting
• piquing
• activating
• fanning
• inflaming
• impassioning
• galvanizing
• motiving
• animating
• bothering
• angering
• building a fire under
• abetting
• energizing
• kindling
• quickening
• enraging
• vitalizing
• fermenting
• taunting
• teasing
• upsetting
• raising
• setting off
• keying (up)
• getting
• whipping (up)
• jeering
• pumping up
• aggravating
• maddening
• exasperating
• irritating
• annoying
• vexing
• galling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calming
• subduing
• soothing
• appeasing
• placating
• pacifying
• tranquilizing
• mollifying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of instigating

Verb

The topic of transgender athletes has been at the center of WNBA discourse since Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham weighed in on the conversation in an ESPN article last month, instigating a domino effect of reactions in and around the league. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

But Beijing’s pressure backfired by instigating broader public support for her leadership. — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 29 July 2026

This new ceasefire was broken once again on Saturday, with both sides accusing the other of instigating the violence. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 20 June 2026

Kansas City police are continuing to search for a 22-year-old man suspected of instigating a string of shootings Tuesday night, who has now escaped two standoffs with law enforcement. — Ilana Arougheti june 18, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026

But eventually, the rain wound up instigating the first moment on the show that was truly Love Island. — Anna Peele, Vulture, 20 May 2026

Settlers moving West had used various tactics since Colonial times to advance despite the presence of Native Americans, whether through legal moves such as treaties or by instigating conflicts, Andrews said. — Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 20 May 2026

The French president warned against instigating panic with talk about fuel shortages as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz from which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes. — ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026

Some of its members and those of some of its sister organizations have been implicated in – or accused of - instigating attacks against India's Muslim and Christian minorities. — Rob Schmitz, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026