instigate

verb

in·​sti·​gate ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgāt 

instigated; instigating

transitive verb

: to goad or urge forward : provoke

instigation

ˌin(t)-stə-ˈgā-shən 

noun

instigative

ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgā-tiv 

adjective

instigator

ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

It's time to investigate the true meaning of instigate. Instigate is often used as a synonym of incite (as in "siblings instigating a fight"), but the two words differ slightly in their overall usage. Incite usually stresses an act of stirring something up that one did not necessarily initiate ("the court's decision incited riots"), while instigate implies responsibility for initiating or encouraging someone else's action, and usually suggests dubious or underhanded intent ("he was charged with instigating a conspiracy"). Coming from a form of the Latin verb instigare ("to urge on or provoke"), instigate stepped into English in the 1500s, roughly a century after incite.

Synonyms

• abet
• brew
• ferment
• foment
• incite
• pick
• provoke
• raise
• stir (up)
• whip (up)

Choose the Right Synonym for instigate

incite, instigate, abet, foment mean to spur to action.

incite stresses a stirring up and urging on, and may or may not imply initiating.

inciting a riot

instigate definitely implies responsibility for initiating another's action and often connotes underhandedness or evil intention.

instigated a conspiracy

abet implies both assisting and encouraging.

aiding and abetting the enemy

foment implies persistence in goading.

fomenting rebellion

Examples of instigate in a Sentence

There has been an increase in the amount of violence instigated by gangs.

The government has instigated an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Recent Examples on the Web

The school has agreed to take actions to ensure compliance with Title VI after Muslim and Jewish students were allegedly subjected to discriminatory comments and stereotypes between Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, instigating the war in Gaza, and last May. —Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2025

The most prominent offshoot is that there is a chance of being able to instigate a chain reaction of intelligence. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025

Within days, former U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., then the House GOP’s leader, and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., then the leader of Senate Republicans, blamed Trump for instigating the riot. —Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 3 Jan. 2025

Civilians across Syria have taken to the streets to celebrate the fall of the family regime, which has governed the nation since the 1960s, and whose repressive policies helped instigate the 2011 uprising that plunged the country into civil war. —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin instigatus, past participle of instigare — more at stick

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

instigate

verb

in·​sti·​gate ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgāt 

instigated; instigating

: incite, provoke

instigation

ˌin(t)-stə-ˈgā-shən 

noun

instigator

ˈin(t)-stə-ˌgāt-ər 

noun