instigate
Also found in: Thesaurus, Legal, Idioms, Wikipedia.
in·sti·gate
(ĭn′stĭ-gāt′)tr.v. in·sti·gat·ed, in·sti·gat·ing, in·sti·gates
1. To initiate or bring about, often by inciting: instigate a public discussion of the issue; instigate an uprising.
2. To urge on; goad: tried to instigate the people to revolt.
in′sti·ga′tion n.
in′sti·ga′tive adj.
in′sti·ga′tor n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
instigate
(ˈɪnstɪˌɡeɪt)vb (tr)
1. to bring about, as by incitement or urging: to instigate rebellion.
2. to urge on to some drastic or inadvisable action
[C16: from Latin instīgāre to stimulate, incite; compare Greek stizein to prick]
ˈinstiˌgatingly adv
ˌinstiˈgation n
ˈinstiˌgative adj
ˈinstiˌgator n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
in•sti•gate
(ˈɪn stɪˌgeɪt)v.t. -gat•ed, -gat•ing.
1. to cause by incitement; foment: to instigate a quarrel.
2. to urge, provoke, or incite to some action or course: to instigate people to revolt.
[1535–45; < Latin instīgāre to goad on, impel =in- in-2 + -stigare, akin to stigma, stick2]
in′sti•gat`ing•ly, adv.
in′sti•ga`tive, adj.
in′sti•ga`tor, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
instigate
Past participle: instigated
Gerund: instigating
Imperative |
---|
instigate |
instigate |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Verb | 1. | instigate - provoke or stir up; "incite a riot"; "set off great unrest among the people" raise - activate or stir up; "raise a mutiny" |
2. | instigate - serve as the inciting cause of; "She prompted me to call my relatives" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
instigate
verb provoke, start, encourage, move, influence, prompt, trigger, spur, stimulate, set off, initiate, bring about, rouse, prod, stir up, get going, incite, kick-start, whip up, impel, kindle, foment, actuate The violence was instigated by ex-members of the secret police.
stop, discourage, suppress, restrain, repress
stop, discourage, suppress, restrain, repress
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
instigate
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يُحَرِّض، يَحُض
podňecovat
ansporetilskynde
stofna til; æsa til
kūdītmusinātprovocēt
instigate
[ˈɪnstɪgeɪt] VT [+ rebellion, strike, crime] → instigar a; [+ new ideas] → fomentar; [+ change] → promoverCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
instigate
[ˈɪnstɪgeɪt] vt [+ rebellion, strike, crime] → être l'instigateur/trice de; [+ change] → initier; [+ legal proceedings] → intenterCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
instigate
vt → anstiften; rebellion, strike also → anzetteln; violence → aufrufen zu; new idea, reform etc → initiieren
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
instigate
(ˈinstigeit) verb to suggest and encourage (a wrong action, a rebellion etc).
instiˈgation nounKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.