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In·sti·gate

/ˈinstəˌɡāt/

verb
- 1. bring about or initiate (an action or event): "they instigated a reign of terror" Similar set in motionput in motionget under wayget goingget off the groundget in operationstartbegininitiatelaunchinstitutelay the foundations oflay the first stone ofsow the seeds ofset upinauguratefoundestablishput in placeorganizeget workingget functioningactivatetrigger offset offspark offinspirefomentkindlestir upwhip upactuategeneratecausebring aboutstart/get/set the ball rollinginformal:kick offformal:commenceOpposite halt
- ▪ incite someone to do something, especially something bad: "instigating men to refuse allegiance to the civil powers" Similar inciteencourageurgegoadprovokespur ondrive onegg onenticestimulatepushpressprodpromptinduceimpelprevail uponconstrainmotivatemakeinfluencepersuadeswayarouserouseexciteinflamestir upstingprickinformal:put up toroot onprocureOpposite dissuade
Word Origin mid 16th century (in the sense ‘urge on’): from Latin instigat- ‘urged, incited’, from the verb instigare, from in- ‘towards’ + stigare ‘prick, incite’.
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What does instigate mean?
The meaning of INSTIGATE is to goad or urge forward : provoke. How to use instigate in a sentence. Did you know? Synonym Discussion of Instigate.

Instigate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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What is the difference between instigate and foment?
Instigate implies responsibility for initiating or encouraging someone else's action and usually suggests dubious or underhanded intent ("he was charged with instigating a conspiracy"). Another similar word, foment, implies causing something by means of persistent goading ("the leader's speeches fomented a rebellion").

Instigate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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What happens if a person is instigated?
People who are instigators often begin trouble but then back off and let others break the rules. If you instigate a food fight in the cafeteria, you might throw the first spoonful of mashed potatoes, but then you stop and let all the other students carry on the chaos. When something is instigated, the outcome tends to be unknown.

Instigate - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

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What is the difference between incite and instigate?
Incite usually stresses an act of stirring something up that one did not necessarily initiate ("the court's decision incited riots"). Instigate implies responsibility for initiating or encouraging someone else's action and usually suggests dubious or underhanded intent ("he was charged with instigating a conspiracy").

Instigate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › instigateInstigate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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Instigate means to goad or urge forward, often with dubious or underhanded intent. Learn the difference between instigate and incite, see synonyms and antonyms, and explore the word history and usage of instigate.
dictionary.cambridge.org › english › instigateINSTIGATE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

dictionary.cambridge.org › english › instigate
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Learn the meaning of instigate, a formal verb that means to cause an event or situation to happen by making a set of actions or a formal process begin. See how to use instigate in sentences and how to say it in different languages.
www.dictionary.com › browse › instigateINSTIGATE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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Instigate means to cause by incitement or provocation, or to urge or incite to some action or course. Learn the origin, pronunciation, and related words of instigate from Dictionary.com.
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dictionary.cambridge.org › english › instigateINSTIGATE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

dictionary.cambridge.org › english › instigate
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Learn the meaning of instigate, a formal verb that means to cause an event or situation to happen by making a set of actions or a formal process begin. See how to use instigate in sentences and find translations in different languages.
www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › instigateInstigate - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

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instigate: 1 v provoke or stir up Synonyms: incite , set off , stir up Types: raise activate or stir up Type of: provoke , stimulate provide the needed stimulus for v serve as the inciting cause of Synonyms: inspire , prompt Type of: cause , get , have , induce , make , stimulate cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner
www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitioninstigate verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...

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Learn the meaning, pronunciation and usage of the verb instigate, which means to make something start or happen, usually something official. See also the synonym bring something about and the word origin.
www.thefreedictionary.com › instigateInstigate - definition of instigate by The Free Dictionary

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Instigate means to bring about, often by inciting or urging, or to urge on to some drastic or inadvisable action. See synonyms, translations, and examples from various sources and dictionaries.