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
-
North Carolina’s 20-3 win over the 49ers on the Charlotte campus Saturday night won’t break any records for its excitement level.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Fall does not arrive with the same excitement.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Almost exactly a year ago, Glasnow’s absence provided the impetus for Roberts’ rallying cry that carried the Dodgers to October.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
That was the impetus to reimagine that story.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
How Resources Strengthen Innovation Across Teams Ideas need encouragement and resources.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Fearing immigration consequences, the woman delayed reporting the attack but eventually came forward with a family member’s encouragement.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The projects received millions in state and local tax incentives after promising to create thousands of new jobs.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
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Both the Kansas and Missouri legislatures have extended the team’s incentive package deadlines to give them more time to make a decision.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
9 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 primary question is the motivation of the government, First Amendment experts told The Republic.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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All four players won the Tewaaraton Award for the most outstanding player in college lacrosse, and the quartet was a primary motivation for Law to return to the team in ’25.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In addition, treatment centers often provide rooms with soft lighting, a naturalistic decor, and music or other sensory stimulation.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
5 Sep. 2025
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Deep-brain stimulation is a last resort for all but those with widespread dystonia in many body parts, which, sadly, are often children, experts say.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigation. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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