instigate
- to cause by incitement; foment: to instigate a quarrel.
- to urge, provoke, or incite to some action or course: to instigate the people to revolt.
Origin of instigate
Synonyms for instigate
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for instigating
plot, abet, prompt, initiate, incite, inflame, kindle, spur, foment, urge, scheme, raise, hint, actuate, needle, move, insinuate, goad, impel, startExamples from the Web for instigating
Contemporary Examples of instigating
Nor do I believe that was what the president was instigating.
Instigating military involvement without considering these issues is nothing more than a short-sighted action.
Australian brand Solid Gold Bomb was caught hawking rape-themed T-shirts on Amazon's UK site, instigating public horror.
Bakkar and his fellow Salafists were blamed by some for instigating the chaos, though they condemned the violence from the start.
Nader Bakkar, Salafist Spokeman, on the Embassy Riots and Bridge Building in a Post–Arab Spring EgyptMike Giglio
September 25, 2012
But he said he later saw a police report accusing him of instigating the violence and organizing a riot outside the courtroom.
Historical Examples of instigating
The question is, whether he be guilty as joining with him, or instigating of him?
Stevens was charged with instigating riots and barn-burnings.
Dixie After the WarMyrta Lockett Avary
The bards have ever been foremost in instigating insurrections in Wales.
Both Sides the BorderG. A. Henty
For a long time Cetchwayo had been instigating rebellion and preparing for war.
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 1 (of 6)Louis Creswicke
His merit in that eminence was, by instigating a tyrant to injustice, to provoke a people to rebellion.
The Ontario Readers: The High School Reader, 1886Ministry of Education
instigate
- to bring about, as by incitement or urgingto instigate rebellion
- to urge on to some drastic or inadvisable action
Word Origin for instigate
Word Origin and History for instigating
instigate
1540s, back-formation from instigation or else from Latin instigatus, past participle of instigare "to urge on, incite" (see instigation). Related: Instigated; instigates; instigating.