Library / English Dictionary

INSTIGATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Serve as the inciting cause of

Example:

She prompted me to call my relatives

Synonyms:

inspire; instigate; prompt

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "instigate" is one way to...):

cause; get; have; induce; make; stimulate (cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They instigate him to write the letter

Derivation:

instigation (deliberate and intentional triggering (of trouble or discord))

instigation (the verbal act of urging on)

instigator (a person who initiates a course of action)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Provoke or stir up

Example:

set off great unrest among the people

Synonyms:

incite; instigate; set off; stir up

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "instigate" is one way to...):

provoke; stimulate (provide the needed stimulus for)

Cause:

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "instigate"):

raise (activate or stir up)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

instigant (someone who deliberately foments trouble)

instigation (deliberate and intentional triggering (of trouble or discord))

instigative (arousing to action or rebellion)

instigator (someone who deliberately foments trouble)

Credits