instigator

American

[in-sti-gey-ter] / ˈɪn stɪˌgeɪ tər /

Rarely instigant

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.

Peaceful protesters outnumbered the violent instigators, and they kept the demonstration from becoming a riot.
Plays to be performed at the festival focus on a theme of how youth can be the instigators of positive change.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

instigators

plural

Etymology

Origin of instigator

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin instigātor, equivalent to instigāt(us) + -or -or ² ( def. ); see instigate ( def. )

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:

instigator instigators

"He's the instigator of it all. He started it all and we finished it."

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

According to their coach, Romain Haguenauer, this change of music was the result of behind-the-scenes manipulation -- the instigator allegedly an American judge, a compatriot of Chock and Bates.

From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026

"It potentially acts as an instigator of early Alzheimer's pathology."

From Science Daily ● Dec. 22, 2025

But whether it is an unexpected jump in claims costs or lower premiums that are the instigator, the upshot is that auto-insurance underwriting might now be past its peak profitability.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 8, 2025

Terryl also felt that Kathie was accusing her of being an instigator.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

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

But LeBron James, one of the instigators during that stretch, missed three point-blank looks at the basket with the Lakers needing to be perfect to have a real chance at a comeback.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 19, 2025

Government spokesperson Houmed Msaidie said the state would not give way to violence, adding: "We know the instigators."

From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2024

Astonishingly, one of the main instigators was Mikhail Gorbachev.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023