instigator
noun
a person or thing that provokes or incites an action or course: Plays to be performed at the festival focus on a theme of how youth can be the instigators of positive change.
instigators
-
pluralof instigator.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Loyalist commanders estimate there were half-a-dozen coup instigators and perhaps 40 eager co-conspirators.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026
Intervention by the governor and community mediation efforts restored a fragile peace to the area, but the instigators of the violence remain at large.
From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026
Because the companies are folding to these baseless accusations, the instigators of these hunts have become emboldened, he said.
From BBC ● Jan. 11, 2025
School officials also have “spoken to Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón,” he said, “to solicit his help in ensuring that the instigators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2024
We spread ourselves out, made our presence known to the main instigators.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
