Instigate meaning

ĭn'stĭ-gāt'
The definition of instigate is to start something or cause something to happen.

An example of instigate is when you start a riot or get people all worked up with your speech.

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To cause by inciting; foment.

To instigate a rebellion.

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To initiate or bring about, often by inciting.

Instigate a public discussion of the issue; instigate an uprising.

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To urge on; goad.

Tried to instigate the people to revolt.

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To urge on, spur on, or incite to some action, esp. to some evil.

To instigate others to rebel.

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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.

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Origin of instigate

  • Latin īnstīgāre īnstīgāt- steig- in Indo-European roots
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • From the Latin instigatus, past participle of instigare (“to instigate”), from prefix in- in + *stigare, akin to stinguere (“push, goad”). Akin to German stechen (“to prick”), English stick.
    From Wiktionary

Instigate Sentence Examples

  • He didn't instigate anything—just the opposite.

  • Any of these things can cause enough stress in your cat to instigate fur loss.

  • This certainly isn't an easy task for women who would usually instigate a fight with someone insulting them, and this is why this test is so difficult.

  • Responding to the messages only serves to instigate further contact.Sit with your children as they set up user names, email addresses, passwords, and profiles.

  • Situations may be set up to instigate those reactions, but they are essentially "off the cuff."

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Related articles

Words near instigate in the Dictionary