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

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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

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instigating
Verb
The instigating weather system bringing the risk to the Southwest is an upper-level low — or a high altitude pocket of cold air, low pressure and spin. — Jamie Ross, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026 Last year, the NFL suspended Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch for one game for instigating a scuffle with the Kansas City Chiefs. — Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 13 Oct. 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigating
  1. provocative
  2. provoking
  3. encouraging
  4. charged
  5. promoting
  6. stimulating
  7. triggering
  8. raising
Adjective
  • The title of the film, God Will Not Help, seems deliberately provocative.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026
  • That so-fake-it’s-real argument has underpinned many provocative artistic movements over the years.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of provocative
Verb
  • The best of these films are simultaneously suspenseful, thought-provoking and dazzling.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 27 Oct. 2026
  • In 2012 American entrepreneur Russ George spread roughly 100 tons of iron in the North Pacific, provoking international criticism that a commercial venture had begun geoengineering without adequate oversight.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • And those were largely thanks to dad encouraging me to do that.
    — Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The White House has been hands off with artificial intelligence while encouraging the buildout of data centers — a massive infrastructure gambit that is now in jeopardy after data centers proved a loser at the ballot box.
    — Justin Papp,Garrett Downs,Megan Cassella, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of encouraging
Adjective
  • The result is an urgent, propulsive song with a raw spirit and some of Pop’s most super-charged writing with deceptively simple lyrics about love and war, dripping with desperation.
    — Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
  • What Happens Next Greene is likely to continue stoking controversy by breaking with her party, as conversations around immigration remain charged and divisive.
    — Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Definition of charged
Verb
  • Rather than campaign for Whatley, he's been promoting his new book criticizing fellow Republicans.
    — Colin Campbell, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
  • As lieutenant governor, Stratton’s priorities included promoting equity in women’s health and leading a program aimed at putting tax dollars from cannabis sales into the communities most affected by the war on drugs.
    — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of promoting
Verb
  • This potentially removes the need to add a separate immune-stimulating ingredient to the vaccine.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • But protecting existing fibers and stimulating new protein production are not the same as rebuilding a functional elastic network.
    — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of stimulating
Verb
  • In April 2025, former Commissioner Chris Measmer resigned to join the North Carolina Senate, triggering a contentious appointment process that resulted in a lawsuit and a judge blocking the board’s initial choice.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Late Sunday, 15 waterways across northern Arizona and southwestern Colorado either reached or were forecast to reach major flood stage, triggering evacuations and washing out roads.
    — Washington Post, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of triggering
Verb
  • The former San Francisco supervisor wants to pursue legislation to prevent insurance companies from raising the rates or dropping the coverage of a policyholder who files a claim.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Arizona voters passed a measure that bans cities and towns from raising taxes on groceries until July 2027.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of raising

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Cite this Entry

“Instigating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigating. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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