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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’.

   Scrabble Points: 10

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