as in provocative
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction
she is no stranger to controversy, having penned several instigative and inflammatory books attacking liberals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigative
Adjective
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That group, which began on college campuses, quickly drew attention with its provocative events and Kirk’s willingness to debate critics onstage.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025 -
Kirk frequently attacked mainstream media and engaged in culture war issues around race, gender and immigration, often in a provocative style.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For context, geomagnetic storms are caused by fiery eruptions from the sun's surface that send charged particles zipping toward our planet.—
Tom Brown,
Space.com,
20 May 2025
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The ceremony came at a charged moment, coinciding with Columbia University canceling its graduation ceremony (and largely closing off its campus).—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2024
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“Instigative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigative. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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