INSTIGATOR Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

instigator

noun

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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Example Sentences

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 Which is why this opinion piece speculates that the spending effect of growth in the form of high demand for all things Swift and World Cup is a relative growth somnolent as opposed to an instigator. —

John Tamny, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026 The parents, arguably the film’s first instigators, operate based off fear of their children’s sexuality. —

Arushi Jacob, Variety, 19 June 2026 The Aussies aren’t the sole instigators, according to them. —

Sean Gregory, Time, 18 June 2026 Rimet, the instigator of the World Cup, was an enthusiastic supporter of professional soccer at a time when amateur sport was considered superior. —

Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 There are leaders, lurkers, peacekeepers, instigators, and the person who only surfaces to drop an occasional thumbs-up. —

Sam Reed, Glamour, 18 May 2026 More often than not, junior shortstop Mei Shirokawa is the instigator for Burlington Central. —

Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 In part, Turner’s own frustration with television news was the instigator. —

David Bauder, Fortune, 6 May 2026 Lifeson said that a chance meeting with Paul McCartney during a tribute concert for Taylor Hawkins back in 2022 was the instigator, when Macca urged them to get over their mean, mean pride. —

Devon Ivie, Vulture, 4 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigator

Noun

This year, as a hopeful reality competition host nominee and proponent of Top Chef earning another reality competition series nom, Kish finds herself in a unique position as a participant on season four of fellow Emmys juggernaut The Traitors.

— McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 21 June 2026
David DaCosta, of the 18-acre Ace*Mission Studios, is among those pushing for what’s known as a Business Improvement District, or BID, in the area that proponents refer to as the Boyle Heights Industrial Flats, which runs adjacent to the river.

— Alejandra Molina, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026