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instigation

instigation

5 7.5
The act of encouraging people to start trouble or a protest
  • noun
  • /ˌɪnstɪˈɡeɪʃən/
translation icon : instigación
  • In Philostorgius's version of subsequent events, Gallus approved of the killing of two imperial officials at the instigation of his wife, Constantia.
  • instigation role

Examples

  • Several days into my stay, thanks to Dennis's instigation, I got mobbed twice.

    Academic text (2007)
  • However, terrorist organizations couple these legitimate forms of communication with instigation, recruitment, and indoctrination.

    Academic text (2017)
  • On her instigation, the exercise was repeated several times with the same results.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Acting on the instigation of a priest, sire.

  • Probably at the instigation of Pound, he had read Ovid and Bulfinch.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Street violence erupts either spontaneously or at the instigation of Chavez's allies in the government.

    Blog text (1)
  • At Ral's instigation, state enterprises adopted capitalist accounting and business practices; some managers

    Academic text (2007)
  • The formation of the Auckland Auxiliary Society in 1856 was at the instigation of Walter Lawry, the wealthy former Wesleyan missionary.

    Academic text (2018)
  • The protest was organized at the instigation of several student groups demanding change.

  • After much instigation from his friends, he finally decided to start his own business.

Synonyms

provocation
vsinstigation
58 7.2

An action or comment that makes someone react, often making them angry

focuses on starting actions rather than only causing feelings
incitement
vsinstigation
  • NSFW
13 8.1

To encourage people to do something illegal or violent

is broader and covers starting controversial actions not only crimes
troublemaking
vsinstigation
3 4.5

Actions done on purpose that cause problems or mischief

focuses on starting or prompting action rather than direct mischief
incitation
vsinstigation
1 8.6

An action or speech that urges people to do something, often in a harmful way

focuses more on starting controversial actions rather than general encouragement
abetment
vsinstigation
1 9.5

Encouraging or helping someone to do something illegal

emphasizes starting or causing actions rather than merely providing support
fomentation
vsinstigation
  • Formal
9.9

Encouraging people to cause trouble or public anger

is broader and may mean starting actions not only deliberate discord

Antonyms

11 7.2

Using power to stop people's actions and feelings

9 2.7

A state without strong feelings or worry in your mind

How Provoking

fomentation
  • Formal
9.9
incitement
  • NSFW
13 8.1
instigation
5 7.5
provocation
58 7.2
encouragement
89 1.7
prompting
1 3.8
suggestion
759 1.4

Surface Forms

instigation singular
instigations plural

Morphology

instigation = instigate (transparent) = instigate + ion

A straightforward nominalization of the verb 'instigate' meaning 'the act or process of instigating'; meaning is directly derived and at B1 level is predictable.

Etymology

Instigation comes from the verb instigate, which originally meant 'to urge on' or push someone into action. So, instigation is the act of starting or encouraging something, often trouble or conflict.