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
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
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
-
Fans flooded the comments on Styles’ Instagram announcement with excitement about the new album.—
Charlie Vargas,
Oc Register,
16 Jan. 2026
-
In the comments, her Laguna Beach and The Hills costar Lauren Conrad expressed excitement for the family.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That means the strong impetus to export that has helped China keep its economic growth on track in the face of US frictions, also belies a deeper dependence on the global economy than Beijing would like.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The project was close to getting off the ground a couple of years ago and now has renewed impetus.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
People also flooded her comments and DMs with prayers, encouragement and stories of their own.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Millions of supporters are sharing messages of encouragement and reflection in response to the journey.—
Christina Shaw,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The official boundaries of the new stadium incentive district have not yet been finalized.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The grocer will also receive a $50,000 retailer incentive bonus.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If the labor market is improving and the Supreme Court delivers the expected tariff refunds, the Fed would have almost no justification for adding further stimulus to the economy via a new round of cheaper money.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
There’s the stimulus from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the prospect of lower interest rates from a more dovish incoming Federal Reserve chair, and the benefits from artificial intelligence accruing to the real economy — major pillars maintaining a bullish outlook .—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The best coaches get the most out of you in many ways, sometimes motivation and accountability being the biggest.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
12 Jan. 2026
-
But his account of the motivation for the attack shifted.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The stimulation produces a distinct physical sensation inside the nose.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Jan. 2026
-
So time to get cracking with a cup or two of stimulation.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigation. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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