instigate
verb/ˈɪnstəɡeɪt/
Etymology Borrowed from Latin īnstīgātus, perfect passive participle of īnstīgō (“to instigate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
1
To bring about by urging or encouraging.
- to instigate a riot
- to instigate a change
2 more examples
- In light of growing outrage against Mecham, House special counsel William French instigated an investigation into the governor's affairs last fall.1988 February 14, Elizabeth Pincus, “Arizona Impeaches Right-Wing Governor”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 30, page 1:
- If the man perceives that his partner has arousal or orgasmic difficulties, this is likely to influence his desire to instigate sexual activity and/or his enjoyment and pleasure in being sexual with his partner.2017, Desa Markovic, Working with Sexual Issues in Psychotherapy:
2
To goad or urge (a person) forward, especially to wicked actions.
- to instigate someone to a crime
- he might instigate them to swear against the law of God1678, Robert Barclay, An Apology for the True Christian Divinity:
1 more example
- He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity.1738–1741, William Warburton, The Divine Legation of Moses […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II.1, or II.2), London: […] Fletcher Gyles, […], →OCLC:
- Derived terms
- instigatable, instigatingly, instigative, instigatory, reinstigate, uninstigated
- Related terms
- instigation, instigator