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
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 instigation
They are accused of propaganda against the constitutional order and instigation to commit crimes, and if found guilty could be sentenced to several years in prison.
—
Sarah Moreno
june 5,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2026
Now that more and more users are disengaging and often leaving those platforms entirely, the AI bots are moving in, often at the instigation of the social media platforms themselves.
—
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2026
Had the country remained coalesced around the accurate original understanding of January 6—that American citizens had been lied to about the 2020 election by the president and had attempted to sack the Capitol partly at his instigation—Webster might have been forced into a reckoning.
—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Three other people – two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s – were arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism, the UK's Counter Terrorism Policing office said.
—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Three additional suspects -- two men and a woman -- were also taken into custody and arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism, police said on Thursday.
—
Morgan Winsor,
ABC News,
3 Oct. 2025
Two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s have also been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism in connection with the attack, police said.
—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 2025
Somehow, through its instigation of global disaster, AI can generally be framed as a moral phenomenon.
—
Essence,
24 Sep. 2025
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
Sarah Moreno
june 5,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2026
Now that more and more users are disengaging and often leaving those platforms entirely, the AI bots are moving in, often at the instigation of the social media platforms themselves.
—
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2026
Had the country remained coalesced around the accurate original understanding of January 6—that American citizens had been lied to about the 2020 election by the president and had attempted to sack the Capitol partly at his instigation—Webster might have been forced into a reckoning.
—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Three other people – two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s – were arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism, the UK's Counter Terrorism Policing office said.
—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Three additional suspects -- two men and a woman -- were also taken into custody and arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism, police said on Thursday.
—
Morgan Winsor,
ABC News,
3 Oct. 2025
Two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s have also been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism in connection with the attack, police said.
—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 2025
Somehow, through its instigation of global disaster, AI can generally be framed as a moral phenomenon.
—
Essence,
24 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigation
Noun
-
The three previous World Cup matches in Arlington have brought the excitement, as fans have left with memorable moments from each contest.
-
The latest excitement at the nest was the birth of Sandy and Luna, and their rapid growth after hatching nearly two months ago.
Noun
-
The analysts said recent talks between Japan and the Philippines over overlapping claims in their exclusive economic zones east of Taiwan may have been the impetus for the MSA mission east of Tawain.
-
The impetus behind launching its agentic commerce platform lies in the changes in how consumers shop.
Noun
-
To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the center of our lives, the source of wisdom, strength, encouragement, and unconditional love.
-
Moreover, what moves women forward is action rather than encouragement.
Noun
-
And given that such systems are physically possible, powerful economic and strategic incentives exist for technologists and entrepreneurs to build them.
-
The money is an incentive granted by the city after working more than 20 years to attract a builder with a project appropriate for the property, which was cleared decades earlier for redevelopment.
Noun
-
China also engineered a massive government stimulus package to stabilize its economy.
-
Central banks thought that forward guidance, particularly when interest rates were very low, could provide additional market stimulus.
Noun
-
Research from Hilton found that 56% of global travelers cite rest and recharge as their number one motivation for leisure travel in 2026.
-
Gendreau says other common signs of deficiency include muscle weakness, low motivation, and low energy.
Noun
-
Where Cancer bonds through emotional closeness and consistency, Aquarius needs independence, intellectual stimulation and plenty of room to move freely.
-
The platforms behind it deliver a quick hit of stimulation.
Cite this Entry
“Instigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigation. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
