INSTIGATORS Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

instigators

noun

plural of instigator

as in proponents

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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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 instigators 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 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 There are leaders, lurkers, peacekeepers, instigators, and the person who only surfaces to drop an occasional thumbs-up. — Sam Reed, Glamour, 18 May 2026 All of that would be intriguing even if the founders of Deep Voodoo weren’t South Park instigators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026 In 2001, the United States and its allies stormed into Afghanistan, aiming to destroy the Taliban and round up the instigators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. — Nolan Finley, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigators

Noun

Looking ahead, fair districting proponents see no light at the end of the gerrymandering tunnel.

— Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026
For this reason, proponents tout fuel cells as an effective way to cut emissions while still providing essential power to homes, businesses, factories and, increasingly, data centers.

— John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of proponents

Noun

Sheeran has said his promoters made the decision, according to the BBC.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
Sheeran argued that the decision to remove Macklemore as an opener, backed by the venues and promoters, came down to not wanting to disappoint fans or impact the other people working on the tour by cancelling.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of promoters

Noun

The legal defense army The Left developed a legal advocacy network to support street agitators well before 2020.

— Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2026
Coolly, Violet responds that to avoid alarming the public, a few agitators have beenneutralized—now there’s a sticky euphemism—and their deaths passed off as revenge killings among drug traffickers.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of agitators

Noun

Transgender-rights supporters marched through downtown Seattle Thursday after Washington voters approved a measure barring biological males from girls’ K–12 interscholastic sports, setting up a potential court battle over the new restrictions.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
That moment encapsulated the night between Brooks and his supporters.

— Rashad Alexander November 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of supporters

Noun

The rebels made a lightning advance capturing much of Yemen's Red Sea coast and strategic islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

— AHMED HATEM, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry rejected similar Sudanese accusations in a May 5 statement, calling them baseless, and accused Sudan of supporting rebels in its northern Tigray region.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of rebels

Noun

There is also something faintly touching about watching two professional provocateurs congratulate each other on their courage.

— Anna Rahmanan, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2026
Feigenbaum offered a more cautious interpretation, describing some of the violent perpetrators as fringe provocateurs who exploit broader demonstrations without necessarily directing them.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of provocateurs

Noun

Here the three were, as what some would call a band of outsiders, telling a story about these insurgents to the distinguished Fleet Street, where the most esteemed newspapers like The Daily Mirror were published.

— Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 10 Nov. 2026
But establishments don’t fade away so easily — and insurgents don’t automatically shun them.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of insurgents

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instigator

instigators

instill

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“Instigators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigators. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of instigators

noun

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