instigator

noun

Definition of instigatornext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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 Heat coach Erik Spoelstra at the time downplayed the confrontation, with the Heat routinely making peace after acquiring former Heat instigators. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigator
  1. proponent
  2. supporter
  3. promoter
  4. rebel
  5. advocate
  6. agitator
  7. demonstrator
  8. provocateur
Noun
  • But the apps’ creators and proponents argued the apps were simply a way for users to avoid contact with law enforcement and bore little difference in how Apple and Google maps let users alert others to police speed traps.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The bulk of the money raised by the proponents of Proposition 40, which would enact a one-time 5% tax on California billionaires’ assets, appears to have been spent on gathering signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of proponent
Noun
  • Other supporters argue that adding the ban to the Missouri Constitution would strengthen it.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Two vocal supporters of Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Xavier Becerra filed a formal campaign finance complaint against his rival, Steve Hilton, on Tuesday over the Republican campaign’s use of paid online promoters.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of supporter
Noun
  • Messina Touring Group, the promoter, said that Kraft — a friend of Sheeran — would not allow the tour to play his venues if Macklemore remained on the bill.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Two vocal supporters of Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Xavier Becerra filed a formal campaign finance complaint against his rival, Steve Hilton, on Tuesday over the Republican campaign’s use of paid online promoters.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of promoter
Noun
  • The rebels have also intensified their attacks across the border into Saudi Arabia, attacking its oil facilities and preventing its tankers from passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, through which around 12% of global trade passes.
    — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • While the British prevailed over the rebels, the uprising laid the foundations for African nationalism.
    — Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of rebel
Noun
  • As the second Cunningham rally raged outside the Moda Center, once again pitting women's sports advocates against pro-trans counter-protesters, WNBA coaches faced consequential questioning inside.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • So would Hilton at least be an advocate for undocumented immigrants?
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of advocate
Noun
  • The incident came as agitators against immigration adopt a confrontational new tactic of trying to stop the boats landing on England’s shores, clashing with police and rescue workers in the process.
    — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Among the agitators were the workers at Sytin’s Moscow publishing house.
    — James Folta, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of agitator
Noun
  • The transition from the current demonstrator to a passenger-carrying aircraft will therefore require several additional stages.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026
  • This will be followed by the A2 demonstrator that will upgrade performance and include actual weapons by 2030.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of demonstrator
Noun
  • Some of Abiy’s critics now see him as a provocateur whose actions could lead to hostilities in the Horn of Africa.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Linnetz relishes in his identity as a provocateur, a detail about him which has, in fact, produced more viral moments in five years than most people have in their entire career as a designer.
    — Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of provocateur

Browse Nearby Words

instigative
instigator
instigators
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigator. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All