Synonyms for instigate
ˈɪn stɪˌgeɪtin·sti·gate

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. instigateverb

   Synonyms:
   encourage, incite, provoke, tempt, spur, urge, stimulate, animate, impel

   Antonyms:
   halt, stop, prevent

2. instigateverb

   To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite.

   He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity. -Bp. Warburton.

   Synonyms:
   incite, animate, provoke, stimulate, urge, impel, encourage, spur, tempt

   Antonyms:
   stop, halt, prevent

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. instigate

   Abet and instigate are now used almost without exception in a bad sense; one may incite either to good or evil. One incites or instigates to the doing of something not yet done, or to increased activity or further advance in the doing of it; one abets by giving sympathy, countenance, or substantial aid to the doing of that which is already projected or in process of commission. Abet and instigate apply either to persons or actions, incite to persons only; one incites a person to an action. A clergyman will advocate the claims of justice, aid the poor, encourage the despondent, support the weak, uphold the constituted authorities; but he will not incite to a quarrel, instigate a riot, or abet a crime. The originator of a crime often instigates or incites others to abet him in it, or one may instigate or incite others to a crime in the commission of which he himself takes no active part. Compare HELP.

   Synonyms:
   abet, advocate, aid, assist, countenance, embolden, encourage, incite, promote, sanction, support, uphold

   Antonyms:
   baffle, confound, counteract, denounce, deter, disapprove, disconcert, discourage, dissuade, expose, frustrate, hinder, impede, obstruct

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:2.3 / 3 votes

1. incite, instigate, set off, stir upverb

   provoke or stir up

   "incite a riot"; "set off great unrest among the people"

   Synonyms:
   motivate, start, vex, incite, detonate, raise up, bring out, wake, offset, spark, commove, inflame, disturb, propel, shake up, take off, agitate, explode, trigger off, move, part, trigger, fire up, inspire, trip, prod, egg on, depart, set off, heat, prompt, activate, spark off, touch off, blow up, ignite, start out, foment, set forth, actuate, stir up, cancel, set out

2. prompt, inspire, instigateverb

   serve as the inciting cause of

   "She prompted me to call my relatives"

   Synonyms:
   enliven, actuate, cue, invigorate, inhale, prompt, urge, move, exhort, propel, motivate, barrack, remind, exalt, stir up, breathe in, revolutionise, revolutionize, pep up, urge on, animate, incite, inspire, root on, set off, cheer

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. instigateverb

   Synonyms:
   incite, impel, move, urge, provoke, stimulate, rouse, actuate, persuade, influence, encourage, prompt, set on, prevail upon, stir up, spur on

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "instigate":

   incite, foment, incitement, abet, seditious

How to pronounce instigate?

How to say instigate in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use instigate in a sentence?

1. Drew Thompson:

   Honestly, this isn't a good time for Xi Jinping to provoke a military conflict right before the 20th party congress. It's in Xi Jinping's interest to manage this rationally and not instigate a crisis on top of all the other crises Xi Jinping has to deal with.

2. Jerry Springer:

   Never before has the candidate himself been the one to instigate whatever the problems are, and so yes, that has created a problem. But frankly ... I don't think there's any way that Donald Trump gets elected as president of the United States.

3. Hun Sen:

   Politicians should not use this to instigate things that would lead the country into unrest.

4. Dana Nessel:

   The individuals in( state) custody are suspected to have attempted to identify the home addresses of law enforcement officers in order to target them, made threats of violence intended to instigate a civil war, and engaged in planning and training for an operation to attack the capitol building of Michigan and to kidnap government officials, including the governor of Michigan.

5. Latin America:

   With lies and tricks they're trying to instigate hatred and racism.