INSTIGATOR Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

instigator

noun

Definition of instigator

as in proponent

a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent an instigator who always managed to be innocently standing by once the fighting began

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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 instigator Colorado then played almost 17 minutes with 10 forwards when Fedor Svechkov drew a two-minute instigator penalty, five minutes for fighting and 10 more for misconduct. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 Maggie’s actually the one who was the instigator, unlocking Lizzie’s birdcage. — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026 Kanarek told me that Gray’s antagonism, at the meeting and at other times, positions her as the ultimate instigator of the shooting. — Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026 There is a lot of individual goofery in this episode, but Vic’s usually the instigator. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026 Said another way, Meta’s social media are an instigator of the community and living that are enemies of depression and mental instability. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 The use of simplified Chinese, used in China, found in internal documents linked to the hack suggests a high probability that the instigator, whether public or private, is linked to China, experts said. — John Liu, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 Luis Suarez was one of the instigators, spit on a Sounders official, and was punished with six-game Leagues Cup suspension, which means the Uruguayan forward is banned from the entire 2026 tournament. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 It was said in jest, yet the sport’s most audacious instigators might take him up on it. — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 23 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigator

Noun

One of the leading proponents of an energy-centric view of disease is Martin Picard, a biologist who directs the Mitochondrial Psychobiology Group at Columbia University.

— Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The No campaign accused measure proponents of misusing the state office.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of proponent

Noun

Continue reading … DIRTY POLITICS — Antifa supporter charged with stealing GOP campaign signs in NY race to replace Stefanik.

— , FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Ahead of Frost’s Monday sentencing after his guilty plea to wire fraud, a flood of family members and supporters submitted about 80 letters to the court in a bid for leniency.

— Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of supporter

Noun

The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Oct. 2026
Why concert tickets keep getting more expensive Artists, promoters, venues, and ticketing platforms all take a cut of each ticket.

— James LaForge, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of promoter

Noun

The war next door United Nations experts have documented Rwandan military support for M23 rebels, which have seized territory in eastern DRC.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
But the rebels also have an array of relatively cheap drones, including weapons supplied by Iran, and locally made copies of Iranian attack drones.

— Frank Andrews, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of rebel

Noun

Imara Jones, an advocate who runs a website that features the stories of transgender people, said the issue is attractive for conservatives because some Democrats agree with them.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Medicaid reimbursement rate cuts anger foster care advocates and lawmakers.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of advocate

Noun

Scores of pages of planning documents and social media posts analyzed by Fox News Digital reveal that agitators have laid the groundwork for a coordinated campaign with money, logistics and a communications infrastructure behind their efforts.

— Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
An agitator jumped onto the hood of an ICE vehicle and the officer driving applied the brakes.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of agitator

Noun

Tensions peaked when a demonstrator threw a cup of blood from the spectators’ gallery onto the Senate floor, halting business for several hours before the bill passed.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
All these steps are followed only for the demonstrator reactor.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of demonstrator

Noun

Feigenbaum offered a more cautious interpretation, describing some of the violent perpetrators as fringe provocateurs who exploit broader demonstrations without necessarily directing them.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Mungiu’s prickly, nonjudgmental studies of human behavior have sometimes led him to be branded as a provocateur.

— Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of provocateur

Browse Nearby Words

instigative

instigator

instigators

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“Instigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigator. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of instigator

noun

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