instigating
Setting things off
Instigating is stirring something up—usually trouble, conflict, or action.
To instigate is to provoke or set in motion: He was accused of instigating the riot.
The word often carries negative connotations, suggesting someone who starts problems rather than solving them.
An instigator gets things going, for better or worse: She's always instigating drama.
Urging others to act
- provokingCausing a reaction
- triggeringCausing to activate
- sparkingEmitting small flames
- initiatingCausing to start
prompting · inducing · catalyzing · precipitating · activating · stimulating · generating · eliciting
Strongly encouraging action
- spurringInciting to action
- drivingControlling a vehicle
- compellingPowerfully engaging or persuasive
- motivatingPrompting someone to act
pressuring · pushing · prompting · encouraging · exhorting · galvanizing · propelling · impetus
Deliberately causing hostility
- goadingInciting through persistent pressure
- baitingDeliberately trying to provoke
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
- needlingPersistent mild taunting
prodding · aggravating · irritating · riling · inflaming · egging on · winding up · pushing buttons
Disturbed, restless state
- fomentationStirring up trouble
- seditionInciting revolt against government
- provocationAct that triggers response
- rabble-rousingInciting mob sentiment
troublemaking · inflammation · stirring · subversion · radicalization · uprising · insurrection · riot
inciting
Urging others to act
- provokingCausing a reaction
- triggeringCausing to activate
- sparkingEmitting small flames
initiating · prompting · inducing · catalyzing · precipitating · activating · stimulating · generating · eliciting · arousing
urging
Strongly encouraging action
- spurringInciting to action
- drivingControlling a vehicle
- compellingPowerfully engaging or persuasive
motivating · pressuring · pushing · prompting · encouraging · exhorting · galvanizing · propelling · impetus · prodding
antagonizing
Deliberately causing hostility
- goadingInciting through persistent pressure
- baitingDeliberately trying to provoke
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
needling · prodding · aggravating · irritating · riling · inflaming · egging on · winding up · pushing buttons · picking fights
agitation
Disturbed, restless state
- fomentationStirring up trouble
- seditionInciting revolt against government
- provocationAct that triggers response
rabble-rousing · troublemaking · inflammation · stirring · subversion · radicalization · uprising · insurrection · riot · unrest
- misconductmisconduct, bullying, stealing, vandalism, cheating
- persuadingpersuading, convincing, urging, coaxing, influencing
- troublemakingtroublemaker, troublemaking, agitator, stir, agitating
- hockey penaltiescharging, elbowing, holding, hooking, high-sticking
- incitementinciting, provoking, incitement, provocation, goading
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
instigatingending
Final portion of something
terminating · stopping · finishing · concluding · halting
instigatingcalming
Inducing a settled state
pacifying · soothing · appeasing · de-escalating · placating
instigatingpreventing
Stopping before occurrence
stopping · blocking · averting · forestalling · deterring