1
as in provoked
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
the medical breakthrough instigated a whole new field of therapy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in encouraged
to rouse to strong feeling or action
the charge that the scene in the movie had instigated teenagers to commit similar acts of vandalism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instigated
The president blamed pro-North Korean sympathisers and anti-state activities inside opposition parties for the decision to hand emergency rule to the military on Tuesday night, in a move that instigated nationwide anxiety and confusion.
—
Richard Windsor, The Week Uk, theweek, 4 Dec. 2024
In November 1963, President Kennedy was shot and killed during a motorcade in Dallas, and the shocking moment instigated a period of mourning across the nation.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 29 Nov. 2024
Suppose that the output generated by AI contains subliminal messages, either instigated at the hands of human direction or arising due to some kind of computational happenstance.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Yet the chaotic transformation of Twitter into the increasingly extremist and conspiracist X has also opened up a new set of legal battles — so far mostly instigated by Musk himself.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2024
However, prosecutors argued that Marks instigated the road rage and eye-witness accounts consistently stated that the unarmed Stamates never entered the car.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2024
Richard Windsor, The Week Uk, theweek, 4 Dec. 2024
In November 1963, President Kennedy was shot and killed during a motorcade in Dallas, and the shocking moment instigated a period of mourning across the nation.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 29 Nov. 2024
Suppose that the output generated by AI contains subliminal messages, either instigated at the hands of human direction or arising due to some kind of computational happenstance.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Yet the chaotic transformation of Twitter into the increasingly extremist and conspiracist X has also opened up a new set of legal battles — so far mostly instigated by Musk himself.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2024
However, prosecutors argued that Marks instigated the road rage and eye-witness accounts consistently stated that the unarmed Stamates never entered the car.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near instigated
Cite this Entry
“Instigated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigated. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share