instigator
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for instigator, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Someone who deliberately starts or stirs up trouble, an incident, or a plan.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use instigator
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
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- (suff...
Full origin of instigator →Frequently asked questions
What does “instigator” mean?
The word “instigator” means someone who deliberately starts or stirs up trouble, an incident, or a plan. In plain terms, the person behind the scenes pushing an event or conflict into motion.
How do you pronounce “instigator”?
“Instigator” is pronounced IHNS-tih-gay-tuh (/ˈɪnstəˌɡeɪtɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “instigator” in a sentence?
Here is “instigator” used in a sentence: “Police named him as the chief instigator of the brawl.”
What part of speech is “instigator”?
“Instigator” is a noun.