Synonyms of instigation

instigation

noun

1

as in excitement

something that arouses a strong response from another

without instigation of any kind, the man suddenly threw a punch

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excitement
• encouragement
• stimulus
• motivation
• stimulation
• provocation
• incitement
• incentive
• stimulant
• inducement
• incitation
• spur
• frustration
• goad
• prod
• inspiration
• induction
• exasperation
• galvanization
• lure
• jog
• enticement
• headache
• irritant
• nuisance
• annoyance
• aggravation
• bother
• pest
• peeve
• hassle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subduing

2

as in impetus

something that arouses action or activity

the promise of windfall profits was all the instigation they needed to invest in the scheme

Synonyms & Similar Words

• impetus
• incentive
• encouragement
• motivation
• stimulus
• provocation
• impulse
• spur
• catalyst
• reason
• goad
• momentum
• incitement
• stimulant
• boost
• incitation
• cause
• fuel
• yeast
• shot in the arm
• inducement
• consideration
• invitation
• motive
• occasion
• antecedent
• grounds
• spark
• catalyzer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disincentive
• counterincentive

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of instigation

While in custody, new evidence caused Kerry to be rearrested under suspicion of commission, preparation, or instigation of an act of terrorism, reports ABC News. — Sophia Mandt, The Washington Examiner, 20 July 2026

He has been rearrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, Counter Terrorism Policing South East said. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 13 July 2026

They are accused of propaganda against the constitutional order and instigation to commit crimes, and if found guilty could be sentenced to several years in prison. — Sarah Moreno june 5, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026

Now that more and more users are disengaging and often leaving those platforms entirely, the AI bots are moving in, often at the instigation of the social media platforms themselves. — ArsTechnica, 7 May 2026

Had the country remained coalesced around the accurate original understanding of January 6—that American citizens had been lied to about the 2020 election by the president and had attempted to sack the Capitol partly at his instigation—Webster might have been forced into a reckoning. — Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026

Three other people – two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s – were arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism, the UK's Counter Terrorism Policing office said. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025

Three additional suspects -- two men and a woman -- were also taken into custody and arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism, police said on Thursday. — Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2025

Two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s have also been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism in connection with the attack, police said. — Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025