Word
instigator
Phoneticsin·sti·ga·tor, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪnstəˌɡeɪtɝ/
UK/ˈɪnstɪɡˌeɪtɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who starts something, especially trouble or a fight, and gets other people to join in.
n. a person who initiates an action or event, especially one that causes trouble or conflict; often implies deliberate provocation of others to act.
Examples
“He acts as the instigator when arguments start at school.”
“The police identified him as the instigator who encouraged the crowd to block the road.”
“Although several members joined the protest, historians regard the pamphleteer as its principal instigator, whose writings turned quiet dissatisfaction into organized resistance.”
Examples
simple
“He acts as the instigator when arguments start at school.”
contextual
“The police identified him as the instigator who encouraged the crowd to block the road.”
complex
“Although several members joined the protest, historians regard the pamphleteer as its principal instigator, whose writings turned quiet dissatisfaction into organized resistance.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “instigator” in context.
Verb
01. arrest instigator
“Security forces moved in to arrest the instigator of the unrest.”
verb + noun
02. expose instigator
“Journalists worked to expose the instigator behind the smear campaign.”
verb + noun
03. identify instigator
“Witness footage helped police identify the instigator of the brawl.”
verb + noun
04. instigator incites
“The instigator incited the crowd to storm the government building.”
noun + verb
05. instigator orchestrates
“The instigator orchestrated the entire disinformation campaign from abroad.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. alleged instigator
“The alleged instigator of the fraud scheme appeared in court today.”
adj + noun
07. chief instigator
“Police arrested the chief instigator of the stadium riot last night.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. instigator of riot
“Police are still searching for the instigator of the prison riot.”
noun + prep + noun
09. instigator of unrest
“Authorities detained the suspected instigator of unrest on campus.”
noun + prep + noun
10. instigator of violence
“He was convicted as an instigator of violence during the demonstrations.”
noun + prep + noun
11. arrest the alleged instigator
“Police moved quickly to arrest the alleged instigator of the attack.”
12. identify the chief instigator
“Detectives reviewed CCTV footage to identify the chief instigator.”
Usage
Commonly followed by 'of' to name the action provoked ('the instigator of the protest').
Real-World Examples
“As at Anfield , Jérémy Doku was a key instigator, showing mesmeric skill on the left of the area before finding Foden to sweep home for his first goal since mid-December.” “Lupqi, the instigator of the violence, lashed out in the dock and was verbally abusive towards Judge Dhir.” Etymology
From Latin īnstīgātor (“stimulator”), from īnstīgāre (present infinitive of īnstīgō (“to incite, set on, stimulate, rouse or urge”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European (s)teyg- (“to be sharp, to stab; to puncture; to goad”)) + -or (from -ō (suffix forming masculine agent nouns), from Proto-Indo-European -h₃onh₂- (suffix forming nouns denoting authority or burden)); cognate with French instigateur. By surface analysis, instigate + -or.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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