instigant

9.9

A person who on purpose makes others start trouble or fight

noun
/ˈɪnstɪɡənt/

: instigador

The report concluded that several instigants had encouraged the crowd's violent actions.

Examples

The instigant of the protest was arrested last night.
The journalist accused the protest leader of being an instigant in the recent unrest.
During the heated debate, he was labeled an instigant by his opponents.
Many believe that the instigant was trying to create chaos.
The journalist accused the protest leader of being an instigant in the recent unrest.
During the heated debate, he was labeled an instigant by his opponents.
The report concluded that several instigants had encouraged the crowd's violent actions.

Synonyms

troublemaker

vsinstigant

Offensive

69 4.1

A person who causes problems for other people on purpose

is similar but can include indirect encouragement as well as direct acts

agitator

vsinstigant

16 6.5

A person who stirs up strong public feelings for political change

is deliberate troublemaking beyond public campaigning

provocateur

vsinstigant

14 8.8

A person who on purpose causes trouble or makes others do wrong

is the broader act of causing trouble, not only seeking reactions

instigator

vsinstigant

12 6.8

A person who starts trouble or urges others to act

focuses more on deliberate provocation of conflict rather than starting actions

firebrand

vsinstigant

Formal

10 7.9

A person who tries to make others protest or cause trouble

is deliberate troublemaking in any context, not only protest

disturber

vsinstigant

2 6.5

A person who interrupts people by making noise or causing trouble

is deliberate incitement focused on starting conflict rather than mere disturbance

mischief-maker

vsinstigant

2 6.0

A person who causes small trouble by playing tricks or starting gossip

is more serious, aiming at deliberate harmful conflict rather than play

inciter

vsinstigant

NSFW

1 8.4

A person who encourages others to do wrong or cause trouble

is broader, causing trouble directly or by urging others

provoker

vsinstigant

1 7.5

A person who starts trouble on purpose to make others react

is the overall deliberate stirring of conflict, not only provocation

stirrer

vsinstigant

Offensive

1 7.3

A person who spreads gossip to start arguments

is the general incitement of conflict beyond gossip or rumours

fire-eater

vsinstigant

Offensive

1 8.8

A person who speaks angrily and likes to start political arguments

is broader, covering deliberate trouble beyond aggressive provocation

fomenter

vsinstigant

Formal

9.8

A person who causes political trouble by encouraging others to act against the government

is the general deliberate provocation, not limited to politics

inflamer

vsinstigant

8.9

A person who says things that make people angry or start fights

is the deliberate creation of trouble generally rather than only controversy

fanner

vsinstigant

7.4

A person who causes anger or arguments between people

is focused on causing trouble directly rather than just stirring feeling

troubler

vsinstigant

7.4

A person who causes problems by starting arguments or fights

covers deliberate incitement in any sphere, including political ones

tokoloshe

vsinstigant

Offensive

9.9

A person who causes trouble on purpose to upset others

is the deliberate stirring of conflict in a broader sense

total crazymaker

vsinstigant

Informal

9.5

A person who often causes trouble and drama for others

is deliberate incitement of conflict beyond social chaos

drama monger

vsinstigant

Offensive

8.9

A person who makes small problems into big arguments

is the deliberate incitement of trouble not limited to social drama

Antonyms

peacemaker

23 3.7

A person who helps end arguments and makes people agree

reconciler

1 6.3

A person who helps people become friendly again after a disagreement

How Inciting

firebrand

Formal

10 7.9

rabble-rouser

Literature

6 8.5

agitator

16 6.5

instigant

9.9

provoker

1 7.5

troublemaker

Offensive

69 4.1

Surface Forms

instigant singular

instigants plural

Morphology

instigant = instigate (transparent) = instigate + ant

The noun denotes 'one who instigates' formed by a standard agentive suffix '-ant' on the verb 'instigate', so the meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Instigant comes from Latin parts in- 'on' and stigare 'to prick', so imagine a small 'sting' that pushes someone. So an instigant is a person who deliberately 'pushes' or stirs up others into trouble.