instigator
Instigator (noun) means someone who deliberately starts or stirs up trouble, an incident, or a plan. Example: “Police named him as the chief instigator of the brawl.”
How to use instigator
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe person behind the scenes pushing an event or conflict into motion.
Word forms
instigators plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Police named him as the chief _____ of the brawl.
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for instigator
See all rhymes for 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.