Meaning & use
instigating
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“instigating” is a form of “instigate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Causing something, often something bad such as a fight, to begin.
Grammar: Present participle of instigate, which takes an object: instigating a riot.
Patterns
- instigating something
- instigating trouble
He was accused of instigating the fight.
The rumor kept instigating unrest in the town.
She was instigating arguments just for fun.
verbtransitiveformal
Starting a process, plan or official action.
Grammar: Neutral use in formal contexts.
Patterns
- instigating an inquiry
The council is instigating a review of safety rules.
The police are instigating an investigation.
The manager is instigating changes to the schedule.
verbtransitivedisapproving
Pushing someone to do something wrong or harmful.
Grammar: Takes a person: instigating them to act.
Patterns
- instigate someone to do something
The man was instigating the crowd to riot.
She was instigating her friends to skip class.
He was instigating a rebellion among the workers.
Common combinations
- instigating a fight
- He was blamed for instigating the fight.
- instigating violence
- The leader was arrested for instigating violence.
- instigating trouble
- Stop instigating trouble in the classroom.
- instigating an investigation
- The board is instigating an investigation.
- instigating a change
- She is instigating a change in policy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- provoking
- Provoking means causing a reaction, often anger, while instigating means starting the action.
- inciting
- Inciting stresses urging others to act, often violently.
- initiating
- Initiating is neutral and means beginning, without suggesting trouble.
- stirring up
- Stirring up is informal and suggests causing trouble.
Opposites
Word family
- instigate verb
- to cause something to begin
- instigator noun
- a person who starts trouble
- instigation noun
- the act of causing something
- instigative adjective
- tending to cause something to begin
Commonly confused: instigating or investigating?
instigating vs investigating
Investigating means examining facts, while instigating means starting something.
Practice
The teacher suspected Leo of ____ the argument by spreading a rumor.
Choose one answer.
Instigating means causing the argument to start. Investigating means looking into it, which is a tempting but different action.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “instigating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.