INSTIGATOR Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

instigator

noun

Definition of instigator

as in proponent

a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent an instigator who always managed to be innocently standing by once the fighting began

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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 instigator Colorado then played almost 17 minutes with 10 forwards when Fedor Svechkov drew a two-minute instigator penalty, five minutes for fighting and 10 more for misconduct. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 Maggie’s actually the one who was the instigator, unlocking Lizzie’s birdcage. — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026 Kanarek told me that Gray’s antagonism, at the meeting and at other times, positions her as the ultimate instigator of the shooting. — Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026 There is a lot of individual goofery in this episode, but Vic’s usually the instigator. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026 Said another way, Meta’s social media are an instigator of the community and living that are enemies of depression and mental instability. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 The use of simplified Chinese, used in China, found in internal documents linked to the hack suggests a high probability that the instigator, whether public or private, is linked to China, experts said. — John Liu, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 Luis Suarez was one of the instigators, spit on a Sounders official, and was punished with six-game Leagues Cup suspension, which means the Uruguayan forward is banned from the entire 2026 tournament. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 It was said in jest, yet the sport’s most audacious instigators might take him up on it. — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 23 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigator

Noun

The billionaire tax fight grew more contentious last month after the lead proponent of the measure, SEIU UHW President Dave Regan, was accused of harassing female colleagues and threatening other union leaders to urge them to back the measure.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
The biggest proponent of Proposition NN is the Colorado Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union.

— Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of proponent

Noun

Even some supporters of capital punishment, including a number of Republican lawmakers, seemed repelled by the prospect.

— Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
The bottom line of Milton Friedman and other supporters of neoliberalism was that there has to be effective competition, there has to be open entry.

— John E. McDonough, STAT, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of supporter

Noun

Last year, the company dipped its toes into the live events world, serving as the promoter for boy group P1Harmony’s tour — the boy group is slated to perform Saturday at 82World.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Before long, a promoter recruited her for his stable of touring female wrestlers.

— Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of promoter

Noun

The latest conflict between the Saudis and the Houthis began last month after the rebels seized key areas along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical waterway for oil shipments.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
The latest conflict between the Saudis and the Houthis began last month after the rebels seized key areas along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical waterway for Gulf oil shipments.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of rebel

Noun

However, some safety advocates and Senator Maria Cantwell want a stronger federal review process.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
The city’s independent ratepayer advocate, Timothy O’Connor, agreed that high temperatures were a big driver of the skyrocketing bills, with more people moving into Tier 2 and Tier 3.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of advocate

Noun

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez also cited agitators moving between schools to encourage violence.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Advertisement As protests intensified, state media unleashed a frenzied smear campaign, casting Egyptian protesters as foreign agents and outside agitators.

— Abdelrahman ElGendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of agitator

Noun

Tensions peaked when a demonstrator threw a cup of blood from the spectators’ gallery onto the Senate floor, halting business for several hours before the bill passed.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
All these steps are followed only for the demonstrator reactor.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of demonstrator

Noun

Feigenbaum offered a more cautious interpretation, describing some of the violent perpetrators as fringe provocateurs who exploit broader demonstrations without necessarily directing them.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Mungiu’s prickly, nonjudgmental studies of human behavior have sometimes led him to be branded as a provocateur.

— Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of provocateur

Browse Nearby Words

instigative

instigator

instigators

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Style

“Instigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigator. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of instigator

noun

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