INSTIGATE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for INSTIGATE?

Need another word that means the same as “instigate”? Find 49 synonyms and 30 related words for “instigate” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Instigate” are: incite, set off, stir up, inspire, prompt, set in motion, put in motion, get under way, get going, get off the ground, get in operation, start, begin, initiate, launch, institute, lay the foundations of, lay the first stone of, sow the seeds of, set up, inaugurate, found, establish, put in place, organize, get working, get functioning, activate, encourage, urge, goad, provoke, spur on, drive on, egg on, entice, stimulate, push, press, prod, induce, impel, prevail upon, constrain, motivate, make, influence, persuade, sway

Instigate as a Verb

Definitions of "Instigate" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “instigate” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Incite someone to do something, especially something bad.
• Bring about or initiate (an action or event.
• Provoke or stir up.
• Serve as the inciting cause of.

Synonyms of "Instigate" as a verb (49 Words)

activate	Make active or more active. A DNA repair enzyme that is activated by visible light.
begin	Begin to speak or say he began. Begin a new chapter in your life.
constrain	Compel or force (someone) to follow a particular course of action. Agricultural development is considerably constrained by climate.
drive on	Operate or control a vehicle.
egg on	Throw eggs at.
encourage	Inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to. The intention is to encourage new writing talent.
entice	Attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage. The treat is offered to entice the dog to eat.
establish	Institute enact or establish. Establish the location with a wide shot.
found	Set up or found.
get functioning	Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action.
get going	Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action.
get in operation	Reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress.
get off the ground	Irritate.
get under way	Succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase.
get working	Irritate.
goad	Goad or provoke as by constant criticism. He was trying to goad her into a fight.
impel	Drive, force, or urge (someone) to do something. A lack of equality impelled the oppressed to fight.
inaugurate	Commence officially. The new President will be inaugurated on January 20.
incite	Urge on; cause to act. They conspired to incite riots.
induce	Bring on childbirth in (a pregnant woman) artificially, typically by the use of drugs. The ads induced me to buy a VCR.
influence	Have and exert influence or effect. The artist s work influenced the young painter.
initiate	Take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of. African men are initiated when they reach puberty.
inspire	Breathe in (air); inhale. They can expand their lungs and inspire enough gas to satisfy oxygen requirements.
institute	Advance or set forth in court. The award was instituted in 1900.
launch	Launch for the first time launch on a maiden voyage. He launched a biting attack on BBC chiefs.
lay the first stone of	Put into a certain place or abstract location.
lay the foundations of	Put into a certain place or abstract location.
make	Make or cause to be or to become. Make an effort.
motivate	Provide (someone) with a reason for doing something. He was primarily motivated by the desire for profit.
organize	Plan and direct (a complex undertaking. Julie organized food and drink for the band.
persuade	Induce (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument. Health boards were finally persuaded of the desirability of psychiatric units.
press	Create by pressing. The mob was still pressing forward.
prevail upon	Continue to exist.
prompt	(of an event or fact) cause or bring about (an action or feeling. And the picture he prompted.
provoke	Evoke or provoke to appear or occur. Rachel refused to be provoked.
push	Make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby. He pushed at the skylight but it wouldn t budge.
put in motion	Arrange thoughts, ideas, temporal events.
put in place	Estimate.
set in motion	Decide upon or fix definitely.
set off	Get ready for a particular purpose or event.
set up	Put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground.
sow the seeds of	Place seeds in or on (the ground.
spur on	Goad with spurs.
start	Give a signal to competitors to start in a race. She startled when I walked into the room.
stimulate	Encourage or arouse interest or enthusiasm in. The courses stimulate a passion for learning.
stir up	Affect emotionally.
sway	Move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner. Wind rattled and swayed the trees.
urge	Encourage someone to continue or succeed. Drawing up outside the house he urged her inside.

Usage Examples of "Instigate" as a verb

• Instigating men to refuse allegiance to the civil powers.
• I will be instigating legal proceedings.
• They instigated a reign of terror.

Associations of "Instigate" (30 Words)

agitative	Causing or tending to cause anger or resentment.
animate	Endowed with animal life as distinguished from plant life. Much loved characters have been animated in this Franco Canadian co production.
arousal	Mutual sexual fondling prior to sexual intercourse. The purpose of art is the arousal of emotions.
arouse	Stimulate sexually. She had been aroused from deep slumber.
catalyst	A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change. The invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country.
catalyze	Change by catalysis or cause to catalyze.
deed	Convey or transfer property or rights by legal deed. Doing good deeds.
encourage	Spur on. Pupils are encouraged to be creative.
energize	Supply energy, typically kinetic or electrical energy, to (something. Floor sensors are energized by standing passengers.
enliven	Make lively. The wartime routine was enlivened by a series of concerts.
excitation	The neural or electrical arousal of an organ or muscle or gland. Continuous rotation of the motor by sequential excitation of the phase windings.
excite	Cause to be agitated excited or roused. Excite the neurons.
exhort	Strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something. I exhorted her to be a good child.
impel	Drive forward; propel. Financial difficulties impelled him to desperate measures.
incite	Give an incentive for action. He incited loyal subjects to rebellion.
incitement	An act of urging on or spurring on or rousing to action or instigating. The incitement of mutiny.
induce	Cause to arise. The current in the primary winding is induced by the rotating magnet.
inspire	Give rise to. The lung cancer patient cannot inspire air very well.
instigation	The verbal act of urging on. The Domesday Survey was compiled at the instigation of William I.
invigorate	Impart vigor, strength, or vitality to. The cold water invigorated him.
invoke	Call on (a deity or spirit) in prayer, as a witness, or for inspiration. The antiquated defence of insanity is rarely invoked in England.
motivate	Provide (someone) with a reason for doing something. He was primarily motivated by the desire for profit.
persuade	Cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody’s arm. It wasn t easy but I persuaded him to do the right thing.
provocation	Something that incites or provokes; a means of arousing or stirring to action. He burst into tears at the slightest provocation.
provoke	Evoke or provoke to appear or occur. The decision provoked a storm of protest from civil rights organizations.
rouse	Cause to be agitated excited or roused. Rouse the cable out.
spur	Strike with a spur. Spur horses.
stimulate	Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner. Stimulate my appetite.
stir	Mix or add by stirring. They will be stirred to action by what is written.
urge	A strong desire or impulse. Do try to relax she urged.