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instigator

See definition of instigator on Dictionary.com

synonyms for instigator

  • ringleader
  • agitator
  • firebrand
  • hellion
  • incendiary
  • inciter
  • knave
  • meddler
  • mischief-maker
  • nuisance
  • provocateur
  • punk
  • rabble-rouser
  • agent provocateur
  • inflamer
  • sparkplug
  • wise guy
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is another word for instigator?

Instigator is most commonly used in a negative way to refer to a person who provokes other people or incites trouble—often by instigating arguments or encouraging dangerous actions.

Synonyms include agitator, antagonizer, provocateur, troublemaker, incendiary, and firebrand.

Some instigators make elaborate plans to stir up trouble, but others are opportunists who find any opportunity to throw a match on a powder keg.

The term agent provocateur is more specific than provocateur. An agent provocateur is a secret agent working to incite people into illegal actions so that they can be arrested.

What is the opposite (antonym) of instigator?

Is instigator a negative word?

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How to use instigator in a sentence

Trent Frederic, the instigator in the Capitals’ previous meetings with the Bruins, was also not in Thursday’s lineup because of a non-covid-related illness.
CAPITALS STUMBLE OUT OF THE GATE AT HOME, CAN’T CATCH UP TO BRUINSSAMANTHA PELLAPRIL 9, 2021WASHINGTON POST
The final instigator, Bob Huggins once said, was all the losing.
BOB HUGGINS AND WEST VIRGINIA HAVE REINVENTED THEMSELVES … AGAINJAKE LOURIMMARCH 2, 2021FIVETHIRTYEIGHT
Though no one has been charged with leading or directing the violence, investigators are working to find out whether certain individuals helped coordinate aspects of the attack, before and during the chaos, or were merely opportunistic instigators.
FBI PROBES POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EXTREMIST GROUPS AT HEART OF CAPITOL VIOLENCEDEVLIN BARRETT, SPENCER HSUJANUARY 19, 2021WASHINGTON POST
For a while in the 1990s and early 2000s Michael worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, once again playing the role of scientific instigator and catalyst.
FIVE SCIENTISTS ON THE HEROES WHO CHANGED THEIR LIVES - ISSUE 93: FORERUNNERSALAN LIGHTMAN, HOPE JAHREN, ROBERT SAPOLSKY,DECEMBER 2, 2020NAUTILUS
That aggressive behavior is apparently meant to disrupt the feeding insects and help the instigators score dinner, biologist and neuroscientist Alex Keene and colleagues report online November 19 in iScience.
MONARCH CATERPILLARS HEAD-BUTT EACH OTHER TO FIGHT FOR SCARCE FOODCURTIS SEGARRANOVEMBER 19, 2020SCIENCE NEWS
Soon afterwards Mathurin Lejeusne, the instigator of the sacrilege, was shot for some breach of military duty.
BELGIUMGEORGE W. T. (GEORGE WILLIAM THOMSON) OMOND
He saw at once that the man had been put up to act in this way by some one, and had little doubt that Brigson was the instigator.
ERIC, OR LITTLE BY LITTLEFREDERIC W. FARRAR
To Gudrun, who wakes from sleep by his side, he points to Brynhild as the instigator of the crime, and dies.
THE NIBELUNGENLIEDUNKNOWN
In fact, a night's reflection had convinced him that Clameran was the instigator of the two attempts to kill him.
FILE NO. 113EMILE GABORIAU
Would ye lay contrivances against the enlightened races of the earth, ye instigator of illegal crimes?
SIXES AND SEVENSO. HENRY
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
OCTOBER 26, 1985
Choose the synonym for future
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WORDS RELATED TO INSTIGATOR

  • agitator
  • firebrand
  • goad
  • incendiary
  • instigator
  • intelligence agent
  • noncooperator
  • operative
  • provocateur
  • provocative agent
  • provoker
  • rabble-rouser
  • radical
  • ringleader
  • spark
  • spy
  • troublemaker
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.