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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Recent Examples of instigator
But while Josh may be the instigator, none of this would be remotely possible without George.
—
Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Jia is critical of this, making references to the 2008 Beijing Olympics as an instigator to rapid growth across the country.
—Zach Dennis, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
Naming an interstate war based on the state in which the war is fought – while omitting the name of outside instigators – implies the culpability of that state.
—Esther Brito Ruiz, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
One of the main instigators, Starboard Value, is back for more.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
Interlune’s instigator and intellectual godfather is an 89-year-old former astronaut, Harrison Schmitt, who serves as executive chairman.
—Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
And the main instigators are men.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 31 Aug. 2025
Lee, seeking to move past a military takeover attempt by his predecessor, positioned himself as a facilitator of dialogue rather than an instigator of confrontation.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Dana being one of them, Robby obviously being one, and Santos being, in some way, the instigator or the catalyst for that whole story to fall apart.
—EW.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Jia is critical of this, making references to the 2008 Beijing Olympics as an instigator to rapid growth across the country.
—Zach Dennis, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
Naming an interstate war based on the state in which the war is fought – while omitting the name of outside instigators – implies the culpability of that state.
—Esther Brito Ruiz, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
One of the main instigators, Starboard Value, is back for more.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
Interlune’s instigator and intellectual godfather is an 89-year-old former astronaut, Harrison Schmitt, who serves as executive chairman.
—Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
And the main instigators are men.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 31 Aug. 2025
Lee, seeking to move past a military takeover attempt by his predecessor, positioned himself as a facilitator of dialogue rather than an instigator of confrontation.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Dana being one of them, Robby obviously being one, and Santos being, in some way, the instigator or the catalyst for that whole story to fall apart.
—EW.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigator
Noun
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Massive Attack have also joined a separate but parallel drive to pull music from Spotify altogether; proponents of that movement primarily cite founder Daniel Ek’s investment in weapons contractor Helsing, which is not linked to Israel.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
6 Oct. 2025
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With Newsom’s signature now on AB 1340, drivers can collectively bargain and unionize, including negotiating contracts, which would set industry-wide standards, according to proponents like bill sponsors Assemblymembers Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, and Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Back in the 1920s, even the Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin called on his British supporters to affiliate with the Labour Party instead of fighting it.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
4 Oct. 2025
-
No victims speak in court While the court heard several pleas from Combs’ supporters Friday, the victims who testified at trial were noticeably absent from the hearing.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Together, O’Neill and Alicia navigate a rabbit hole of deranged folk singers, psychotic cops, boxing promoters, line dancing enthusiasts, and worst of all, podcasters, the truth blurs, bodies stack, and the nature of their search comes into question.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
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American baseball promoters were quick to see the potential of the Japanese market, touring the country as early as 1908.—
Jared Bahir Browsh,
The Conversation,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Alcalá has pleaded guilty to collaborating with Colombia’s FARC rebels.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The rebels also cited the need to take out the massive scam operations as justification for their offensive – which analysts say China likely greenlit.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For years, advocates for expanding child birth options in Kentucky have called on lawmakers to reduce barriers to establishing freestanding birthing centers.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
No president has ever fired a commissioner, and many commissioners have been outspoken advocates for free speech.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The cases range from political agitators seeking to intimidate immigrants to others using the guise of authority to allegedly kidnap, rob or assault victims.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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Country music’s premier agitator, Gavin Adcock, is also on the lineup.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Local media reports state that over 3,000 people marched on the bridge while two demonstrators hung themselves on either side of the bridge.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
22 Sep. 2025
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Under that contract, Ursa Major is serving as lead integrator for a tactical flight demonstrator that will showcase Draper’s use for hypersonic applications.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Labour has slumped to around 20% in recent polls, while Reform UK – the upstart hard-right party led by firebrand Nigel Farage – has surged to around 35%, the same share that Labour won last year.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
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The clearest firebrand of the group is Suzanne (Mia Barron), whose patronizing politeness will eventually give way to rage once her views are challenged.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigator. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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