instigator
5 synonyms 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.
ringleader and instigator
main instigator
Etymology
Came from Latin īnstīgātor (“stimulator”), from īnstīgāre, the present infinitive of īnstīgō (“to incite, set on, stimulate, rouse or urge”), possibly going back to Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- (“to be sharp, to stab; to puncture; to goad”), plus -or (from -ō, a suffix forming masculine agent nouns, from Proto-Indo-Eu...
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.
