1
as in excitement
something that arouses a strong response from another
without instigation of any kind, the man suddenly threw a punch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impetus
something that arouses action or activity
the promise of windfall profits was all the instigation they needed to invest in the scheme
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of instigation
At the instigation of president Charles de Gaulle, new towns began to emerge in France at the end of the 1960s as a counter to haphazard urban growth.
—
Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigation
Noun
-
Seth Teasdale arrived at his alma mater, Utah Valley University, just before noon, rippling with excitement to see one of his online heroes, Charlie Kirk.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
And who’s more starved for excitement these days than the Blackhawks and Blackhawks fans?—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The special teams element is a benefit of the move more than the impetus.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
That’s really what was the first impetus for getting this to be a continuing project.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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While the movement has yet to gain traction on this side of the pond, Americans have needed little outside encouragement to get in on the secondhand shopping trend, both online, led by marketplaces like ThredUp and The Real Real, and in thrift stores.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Pym was in need of encouragement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
President Joe Biden's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act—passed solely with Democratic votes in Congress—provided historic incentives for clean energy manufacturers and EV and battery makers.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
If a ball is kicked into the landing zone and then bounces into the endzone while staying inbounds, it must be returned or downed; however, there is an incentive for attempting a return in that instance, as a touchback would only spot the receiving team at their 20.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The hope was that a quick jolt of stimulus (delivered without haste) could stir an economic recovery.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The factory is a throwback to a pre-Rust Belt America, providing ~200 jobs, endless pride, and a stimulus that benefits the rest of the local economy.—
Katherine Laidlaw,
HubSpot,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The neighbor, who denied any political motivations in the attack, pleaded guilty to assaulting a member of Congress was sentenced to eight months behind bars.—
Chris Boyette,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
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What investigators conclude about Robinson’s motivations may have far-reaching consequences beyond his own criminal case.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For those with prostates, perineal stimulation can also indirectly create deep arousal and enhance orgasm.—
Essence,
Essence,
11 Sep. 2025
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Weimaraners are another high-energy option, requiring both mental and physical stimulation.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigation. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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