instigate Hear it!

instigate Definition

in·sti·gate (in′stə gāt′)

transitive verb -·gat′ed, -·gat′·ing

  1. to urge on, spur on, or incite to some action, esp. to some evil to instigate others to strife
  2. to cause by inciting; foment to instigate a rebellion

Etymology: < L instigatus, pp. of instigare, to stimulate, incite < in-, in- + -stigare, to prick: for IE base see stick

instigate Related Forms
in′·sti·ga′·tion noun in′·sti·ga′·tive adjective in′·sti·ga′·tor noun
instigate Synonyms

instigate

v.

prompt, stimulate, induce, incite; see incite, urge 2. See syn. study at incite.

instigate Usage Examples

Object

  • hostility: America had always said it would never instigate hostilities, it would only respond to an act of nuclear aggression.
  • proceeding: You certainly could instigate divorce proceedings based upon his behavior.
  • uprising: Attempts to instigate uprisings against the Taliban fell on fallow ground.
  • rebellion: His object was to instigate a little rebellion on the part of the bishop.
  • investigation: The Controller may instigate an investigation without having received a complaint.
  • inquiry: The Department of Trade and Industry has also instigated an inquiry.

Preposition: as

  • result: Alternatively, actions were often instigated as a result of patronage.

Modifying Another Word

  • immediately: The customer requiring support simply clicks on a link and this immediately instigates a chat session with an operator via our central secure gateway.
  • recently: On a more serious side, the recently instigated series of CPR seminars have proved very popular.
  • therefore: Dr. Watson therefore instigated discussions between the two institutes at the end of May 1987.
  • actually: The ' first ' IP claimant must then within 20 days register a complaint to actually instigate STOP.
  • even: Issue edicts to rig gambling halls, force captives to walk the plank or even instigate a war between dominant world powers.
  • also: The act also instigated the setting up of a General Board of Health to oversee these reforms.

Used with why or when

  • when: A disciplinary investigation may be instigated only when a formal complaint has been made in writing to an Officer of the Association.

Present participle complement

  • follow: The project was instigated following the merger of four trusts all using different IT systems.

Preposition: in

  • response: Dairy stakeholder for the Forward Planning Campaign instigated in response to the Curry Report.

Preposition: by

  • government: The pensions world is set to change, following a series of reviews instigated by the Government.
  • group: Often, the letters appeared to be instigated by a pressure group 's newsletter or website.
  • party: Therefore, any review request would have had to have been instigated by a third party.
  • owner: A major long-term restoration program of the house and grounds was instigated by new owners in 2001.