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
Officers later reviewed security camera footage and identified Murff as the instigator of the altercation.
—
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026
While some see Nelly as an empathetic and motherly caretaker, others view her as a manipulative, calculating instigator who shapes the narrative to justify her own actions.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Little has been accomplished, and Labour’s woes seem likely to benefit the Reform Party, a new nationalist, populist outfit led by the Brexit instigator Nigel Farage.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
The instigators were allowed to go beyond peaceful protests to hindering law enforcement from doing their job which escalated with the result of two people tragically losing their lives.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
Federal officials and the president himself were swift to label those killed as instigators.
—Dominik Dausch, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 28 Jan. 2026
Kristy Thomas Your favorite instigator has gone corporate.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Trump administration officials were quick to cast Pretti as the instigator.
—Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2026
The founder of the league, Windsor’s Tyler Ruff, grad student and the Huskies’ head student manager, is the instigator, agitator and original commissioner.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026
While some see Nelly as an empathetic and motherly caretaker, others view her as a manipulative, calculating instigator who shapes the narrative to justify her own actions.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Little has been accomplished, and Labour’s woes seem likely to benefit the Reform Party, a new nationalist, populist outfit led by the Brexit instigator Nigel Farage.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
The instigators were allowed to go beyond peaceful protests to hindering law enforcement from doing their job which escalated with the result of two people tragically losing their lives.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
Federal officials and the president himself were swift to label those killed as instigators.
—Dominik Dausch, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 28 Jan. 2026
Kristy Thomas Your favorite instigator has gone corporate.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Trump administration officials were quick to cast Pretti as the instigator.
—Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2026
The founder of the league, Windsor’s Tyler Ruff, grad student and the Huskies’ head student manager, is the instigator, agitator and original commissioner.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigator
Noun
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What’s more, proponents of attachment parenting also indicate that carried babies tend to be happy babies and spend more time alert and observing their environment.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
22 Feb. 2026
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But many believers and UAP disclosure proponents remain optimistic.—
Brett Tingley,
Space.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Warren has been a supporter of similar legislation.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
-
That changed a bit on a sunny Saturday in San Francisco, the contest assuming a smidgen of campaign heat — chanting crowds, sign-waving supporters, call-and-response from the audience — as the state party held its annual convention in this bluest of cities.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As the last manager still standing from the 1980s and the last promoter still standing from the 1990s, Heyman chalks that up as a testament to his ability to thrive and survive.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The conference will cover a number of topics relevant to musical artists, venue operators, and festival and event promoters.—
Travis Pinson,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Additionally, attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen on shipping routes in the Red Sea have slashed Suez Canal revenues, which is a major source for foreign currency.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
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The actor who played soft-hearted rebel Shawn Hunter joined his former costar Matthew Lawrence and his brothers, Andrew and Joey Lawrence, on Friday's episode of their Brotherly Love podcast.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The move was fiercely criticized by Epstein’s victims and their advocates.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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His detention on Thursday drew sharp condemnation from press freedom advocates, who described it as an attack on media independence and democratic norms.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Cabrera is accused of having a cockfighting training ring, a dead rooster in a cage, a rooster agitator (a device used to incite fighting), a gun, rooster vitamins, syringes and medication on his property.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
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In a top-load washer, these might have gotten sucked into the agitator or spun out into the front panel of the machine.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The first demonstrator vehicle is slated for early 2026, underscoring the company’s intention to move quickly from concept validation to on-road testing.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
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That testing includes demonstrator garments—a technical T-shirt containing 10 percent elastane and a non-technical version with 2 percent—to assess real-world performance.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Yet Anti Fund faces pressure to overcome Paul’s provocateur image.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
14 Feb. 2026
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Last month, the right-wing provocateur appeared on Megyn Kelly’s show to discuss his new video series, Real History With Matt Walsh.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigator. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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