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
Ruff thought the hit was high and also thought McCabe got his gloves off before Tuch, so the instigator was a confusing one.
—
Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
The Speaker instead condemned political violence in all its forms, while accusing the left of being the instigator of most political violence in the country.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 21 Oct. 2025
The instigator of Game 1’s most talked about play when Brewers center fielder Sal Frelick brought his fly ball back into play, Muncy cleared both the center field fence and Frelick’s glove for a solo home run in the sixth inning.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
The team found that artificial sweetener Stevia, as well as compounds released by our own gut cells, were the main instigators in activating these gut phages.
—New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2025
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
Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
The Speaker instead condemned political violence in all its forms, while accusing the left of being the instigator of most political violence in the country.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 21 Oct. 2025
The instigator of Game 1’s most talked about play when Brewers center fielder Sal Frelick brought his fly ball back into play, Muncy cleared both the center field fence and Frelick’s glove for a solo home run in the sixth inning.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
The team found that artificial sweetener Stevia, as well as compounds released by our own gut cells, were the main instigators in activating these gut phages.
—New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigator
Noun
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An early proponent in the direct-to-consumer beauty space, Glossier entered wholesale in 2023 and has since expanded into key markets like France via Sephora and Space NK.—
Vogue Business Team,
Vogue,
4 Nov. 2025
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The nascent market is currently led by the likes of Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, and proponents say the technology can ease air traffic congestion.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Favorability Ratings Reveal Polarized Electorate All three candidates face underwater favorability ratings, though Mamdani’s supporters remain the most energized.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
At last weekend’s general assembly of Barcelona club members, Laporta tried to thread a delicate path when defending the plan to play a domestic game over 4,500 miles away, knowing that Tebas is not exactly popular with his team’s supporters.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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While Fury announced his retirement last January, promoter Frank Warren hinted at a Fury comeback with the British fighter hoping to complete a trilogy against the undefeated champion.—
Antonio Losada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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In the article, Roufus criticized promoters who were focused on profits and lacked the experience to safely sponsor fights.—
Cleo Krejci,
jsonline.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The apparent killing – captured on video shared online by the rebels themselves – took place at a university medical school in El Fasher in Sudan’s western Darfur region after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took over the city on Sunday.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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As regular troops in French service, the British treated them as prisoners of war instead of Jacobite rebels, and eventually repatriated them to France.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Employees who have positive AI experiences become AI advocates, driving organic adoption throughout the organization.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Many parents and online safety advocates think more can be done.—
Angela Yang,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As Border patrol arrested one individual, who actively resisted arrest, pepper spray was deployed spray to deter the agitator and disperse the crowd.—
NPR,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Over a dozen agitators showed up to disrupt Sunday’s rally along Capitol Boulevard.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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To voice his frustrations, Mills, 37, of Chicago, has become a weekly demonstrator at the Broadview ICE facility.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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Defense contractors Rheinmetall and MBDA in Germany transferred the laser demonstrator for the Navy to the Laser Competence Center at the Technical Center for Weapons and Ammunition (WTD 91) in Meppen for further testing.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The 63-year-old former assemblyman isn’t campaigning as a culture warrior or firebrand.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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Whereas Melvin was a milquetoast mainstay with two decades of experience as a major-league manager, Vitello arrives as a 47-year-old firebrand who neither played nor coached at any level of professional baseball.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigator. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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