instigating 1 of 2

adjective

as in provocative
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction an artist who deliberately creates instigating works of art that are sure to arouse controversy

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instigating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of instigate
1
as in provoking
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being the medical breakthrough instigated a whole new field of therapy

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2
as in encouraging
to rouse to strong feeling or action the charge that the scene in the movie had instigated teenagers to commit similar acts of vandalism

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instigating
Verb
The topic of transgender athletes has been at the center of WNBA discourse since Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham weighed in on the conversation in an ESPN article last month, instigating a domino effect of reactions in and around the league. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026 But Beijing’s pressure backfired by instigating broader public support for her leadership. — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 29 July 2026 This new ceasefire was broken once again on Saturday, with both sides accusing the other of instigating the violence. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 20 June 2026 Kansas City police are continuing to search for a 22-year-old man suspected of instigating a string of shootings Tuesday night, who has now escaped two standoffs with law enforcement. — Ilana Arougheti june 18, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026 But eventually, the rain wound up instigating the first moment on the show that was truly Love Island. — Anna Peele, Vulture, 20 May 2026 Settlers moving West had used various tactics since Colonial times to advance despite the presence of Native Americans, whether through legal moves such as treaties or by instigating conflicts, Andrews said. — Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 20 May 2026 The French president warned against instigating panic with talk about fuel shortages as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz from which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes. — ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026 Some of its members and those of some of its sister organizations have been implicated in – or accused of - instigating attacks against India's Muslim and Christian minorities. — Rob Schmitz, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigating
  1. provocative
  2. provoking
  3. encouraging
  4. charged
  5. promoting
  6. stimulating
  7. triggering
  8. raising
Adjective
  • The compelling series achieves a provocative dissection of it all with rare confidence without the overindulgence of distracting CGI tossed in for sheer spectacle.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The latest comments therefore seemed predictable to regular viewers, rather than unexpectedly provocative.
    — Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of provocative
Verb
  • The same principle applies to debates about religion, economics and virtually any subject capable of provoking strong emotions.
    — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
  • From this format emerges the tacit thesis that the Bicentennial cultural activities excelled at provoking critical, imaginative reflections on America’s past and future from artmakers and from ordinary citizens alike.
    — Anna Kornbluh, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • Anti-Trumpers in Wichita are encouraging folks to attend the next No Kings Nationwide Day of Action on Saturday as a sort of rally warm-up.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But in his statement Hannan argued labor and environmentalists aren’t stopping development, just encouraging it be done safely.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of encouraging
Adjective
  • The result is an urgent, propulsive song with a raw spirit and some of Pop’s most super-charged writing with deceptively simple lyrics about love and war, dripping with desperation.
    — Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
  • What Happens Next Greene is likely to continue stoking controversy by breaking with her party, as conversations around immigration remain charged and divisive.
    — Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Definition of charged
Verb
  • This annual tradition provides live performances and holiday cheer while promoting donations to community food pantries.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Swank announced her first pregnancy on Good Morning America in October 2022, while promoting her ABC crime series, Alaska Daily.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of promoting
Verb
  • The team also gave the muscle a workout, stimulating it with light for 15 minutes a day at two pulses per second.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Head spas are credited with cleansing the scalp, stimulating blood flow, strengthening hair follicles and lowering stress and anxiety.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of stimulating
Verb
  • Pandemic closures slashed membership by 55%, triggering a $40 million revenue collapse in 2020 that forced leadership to freeze hiring, defer capital projects, draw on reserves and adjust lender terms.
    — Chase Jordan October 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The store owner was in Israel at the time, triggering a yearslong extradition process.
    — Monika Evstatieva, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of triggering
Verb
  • Those officers were not wearing body cameras, raising questions about why the agency still hadn't gotten the cameras out to officers in the field.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Similar federal lists in other states have proved highly inaccurate, raising concerns that eligible voters could be disenfranchised.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of raising

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Cite this Entry

“Instigating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigating. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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