instigate
Americanverb (used with object)
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instigates,
present (3rd person singular)
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instigated,
past participle, past
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instigating
present participle
verb
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to bring about, as by incitement or urging
to instigate rebellion
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to urge on to some drastic or inadvisable action
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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instigationnoun
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instigatornoun
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instigativeadjective
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uninstigatedadjective
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uninstigativeadjective
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instigatinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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instigatesimple
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instigatessimple
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have instigatedperfect
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has instigatedperfect
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am instigatingprogressive
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are instigatingprogressive
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is instigatingprogressive
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have been instigatingperfect progressive
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has been instigatingperfect progressive
Past
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instigatedsimple
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had instigatedperfect
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was instigatingprogressive
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were instigatingprogressive
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had been instigatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of instigate
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin instīgātus, past participle of instīgāre “to goad on, impel,” equivalent to in- “in” + -stīg- “to goad, prick” + -ātus past participle suffix; see in- 2, -ate 1; akin to stigma, stick 2
Explanation
When you instigate something, you start it, but the word carries conflict with it. If you are suspended for wearing a political t-shirt, the incident might instigate days of protest by students and faculty. Instigate comes from the Latin word instigare "to incite." People who are instigators often begin trouble but then back off and let others break the rules. If you instigate a food fight in the cafeteria, you might throw the first spoonful of mashed potatoes, but then you stop and let all the other students carry on the chaos. When something is instigated, the outcome tends to be unknown. The plan you instigate might not lead to the desired result.
Vocabulary lists containing instigate
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“You always hear, ‘Don’t poke the bear, don’t instigate them,’ but that’s not how you deal with a bully,” Soto-Martínez replied.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026
Abby suspected Reynolds had his own reasons for urging Ned to remove her: to instigate the sale of Fidelity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
"We are against all scenarios that aim to instigate a civil war in Iran, that target ethnic or religious fault lines," Fidan told journalists in Istanbul.
From Barron's ● Mar. 7, 2026
Centre Johnny Williams was forced off to instigate a major reshuffle which involved replacement scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams coming on for first cap.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2025
“Oh snap,” Freddy said, trying to instigate a throwdown.
From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore
He instigates them, and pedantically reminds her of the rules, but his surprise and irritation become conflagrations of rage as Fonsia wins hand after hand, remaining placid and mildly abashed at her luck.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
The gene proved very active in the habenula, a region of the cichlid’s brain that registers fear and instigates movement.
From Science Magazine ● Apr. 24, 2024
For any adaptive behaviour associated with consciousness, there could be a nonconscious mechanism that instigates the same behaviour.
From Scientific American ● Nov. 7, 2023
Wombat, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge; she instigates Marion’s return to Indy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2023
It seems to be in the nature of biologic information that it not only stores itself up as energy but also instigates a search for more.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
The decade-long episode instigated by Mao in 1966 saw intellectuals brutally targeted as "class enemies" and schools shuttered, setting China back for years in education and development.
From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026
A hundred years later, Owain Glyndŵr instigated a 15-year revolt against the rule of King Henry IV and claimed the title Prince of Wales, before Wales was reconquered by the English.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
In the most important Phase 3 trials, Zepbound’s highest dose instigated a 20.9% weight loss, while Wegovy’s produced a 14.9% weight loss.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
In some quarters this has instigated an unrealistic disappointment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
Lawrence replied defensively that “the radio-sodium experiments were instigated by me alone,” adding, “I did suggest looking for artificial radioactivity this way and actively supervised the experiments.”
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Police said that a suspect detained at the weekend over the attack on the 78-year-old former Conservative minister has now been re-arrested on suspicion of committing, preparing or instigating "terrorism".
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
Across the pond, the people most affected by the unrest, and its instigating events, are not having any of it.
From Slate ● Jun. 15, 2026
Supporters say Balen was echoing public anger over the protester deaths, not instigating it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026
As such, instigating its own investigation without a referral is relatively rare.
From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2025
If the tapeworm attaches to the right place in the gut, it can leech vitamin B12 from the victim, instigating a lethal form of anemia.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
