instigating 1 of 2

adjective

as in provocative
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction an artist who deliberately creates instigating works of art that are sure to arouse controversy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

instigating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of instigate
1
as in provoking
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being the medical breakthrough instigated a whole new field of therapy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in encouraging
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

Example 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 instigating
Verb
The topic of transgender athletes has been at the center of WNBA discourse since Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham weighed in on the conversation in an ESPN article last month, instigating a domino effect of reactions in and around the league. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026 But Beijing’s pressure backfired by instigating broader public support for her leadership. — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 29 July 2026 This new ceasefire was broken once again on Saturday, with both sides accusing the other of instigating the violence. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 20 June 2026 Kansas City police are continuing to search for a 22-year-old man suspected of instigating a string of shootings Tuesday night, who has now escaped two standoffs with law enforcement. — Ilana Arougheti june 18, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026 But eventually, the rain wound up instigating the first moment on the show that was truly Love Island. — Anna Peele, Vulture, 20 May 2026 Settlers moving West had used various tactics since Colonial times to advance despite the presence of Native Americans, whether through legal moves such as treaties or by instigating conflicts, Andrews said. — Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 20 May 2026 The French president warned against instigating panic with talk about fuel shortages as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz from which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes. — ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026 Some of its members and those of some of its sister organizations have been implicated in – or accused of - instigating attacks against India's Muslim and Christian minorities. — Rob Schmitz, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigating
  1. provocative
  2. provoking
  3. encouraging
  4. charged
  5. promoting
  6. stimulating
  7. triggering
  8. raising
Adjective
  • Shah has previously made headlines for his fiercely nationalist and provocative posture towards both countries.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Kirk launched Turning Point USA in 2012 and made provocative statements about race, gender and politics.
    — Corey Williams, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of provocative
Verb
  • By the mid-nineteenth century, the it-narrative began to interest authors invested less in provoking excitement than in guiding the moral development of their readers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine’s recent strikes into Russia also have exposed weaknesses in Russia’s air defenses, which could prompt Putin to think twice about provoking a retaliatory attack.
    — Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • Historically, the United States has sent mixed messages to Europeans, encouraging them to step up but then scolding them for seeking autonomy.
    — JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The scarcity itself became part of the appeal, encouraging moviegoers to attend early, return for later editions and share the collectibles online.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of encouraging
Adjective
  • The result is an urgent, propulsive song with a raw spirit and some of Pop’s most super-charged writing with deceptively simple lyrics about love and war, dripping with desperation.
    — Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
  • What Happens Next Greene is likely to continue stoking controversy by breaking with her party, as conversations around immigration remain charged and divisive.
    — Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Definition of charged
Verb
  • Center City Partners is a nonprofit focused on promoting the economic and social growth of Charlotte’s core, which includes uptown, midtown and South End.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
  • For Pope, the rally is about finding community alongside promoting voting rights.
    — Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of promoting
Verb
  • While stimulating a fresh sense of observation, Selwyn also wanted to counter some myths about museums.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026
  • But now this new syndrome, Alpha-gal syndrome, is stimulating communities to say, 'Enough is enough.
    — David Pogue, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulating
Verb
  • Driven by artificial intelligence demand, memory chips are in short supply, pushing prices steadily higher and triggering explosive profit growth for Micron.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Officials are still investigating the exact cause, though preliminary assessments suggest an ice avalanche may have blocked a river upstream in Tibet, triggering the sudden outburst flood.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of triggering
Verb
  • Defense attorneys in both cases argued that the defendants’ intent was in question, raising in argument the possibility that their clients were not trying to cause serious bodily injury or death.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Enacting a solution is liable to be a significant political battle, likely involving cutting benefits for some Americans or raising taxes on higher earners, or both.
    — Ashley Lopez, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of raising

Browse Nearby Words

instigates
instigating
instigation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instigating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigating. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All