instigator

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in·sti·gate

(ĭn′stĭ-gāt′)

tr.v. in·sti·gat·ed, in·sti·gat·ing, in·sti·gates

1. To initiate or bring about, often by inciting: instigate a public discussion of the issue; instigate an uprising.

2. To urge on; goad: tried to instigate the people to revolt.

[Latin īnstīgāre, īnstīgāt-; see steig- in Indo-European roots.]

in′sti·ga′tion n.

in′sti·ga′tive adj.

in′sti·ga′tor n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Noun	1.	instigator - someone who deliberately foments trouble; "she was the instigator of their quarrel" inciter, instigant, provoker, firebrand ringleader - a person who leads (especially in illicit activities) bad hat, mischief-maker, trouble maker, troublemaker, troubler - someone who deliberately stirs up trouble
	2.	instigator - a person who initiates a course of action initiator leader - a person who rules or guides or inspires others aggressor - a confident assertive person who acts as instigator

instigator

noun ringleader, inciter, motivator, leader, spur, goad, troublemaker, incendiary, firebrand, prime mover, fomenter, agitator, stirrer (informal), mischief-maker the key instigators of reform

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

instigator

noun

One who agitates, especially politically:

agitator, fomenter, inciter.

Translations

provocador

istigatore

instigator

[ˈɪnstɪgeɪtəʳ] N → instigador(a) m/f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

instigator

[ˈɪnstɪgeɪtə^r] n → instigateur/trice m/f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

instigator

n (of crime etc) → Anstifter(in) m(f); (of new idea, reform etc) → Initiator(in) m(f)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

instigator

[ˈɪnstɪgeɪtəʳ] n → istigatore/trice

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

References in classic literature ?

At that very time, in circumstances even more important than retreating without a battle, namely the evacuation and burning of Moscow, Rostopchin, who is usually represented as being the instigator of that event, acted in an altogether different manner from Kutuzov.

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I myself, in fact, was the instigator of her going.

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She was the instigator. Frank's mother would never have been slighted as she was but for her.

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He cannot be the instigator of the three villains in horsemen's greatcoats, by whom she will hereafter be forced into a traveling-chaise and four, which will drive off with incredible speed.

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And then, too, there was the instigator of the entire foul plot.

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"What is the meaning of this?" said Tarzan, turning to Rokoff, whom he intuitively singled out as the instigator of the outrage.

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"Yes, that I might be charged with having been the instigator of all this work, indeed, you are right," said the young man, blushing for a moment from regret of having betrayed so much eagerness.

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"What has become of Danglars, the instigator, and therefore the most guilty?"

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"Madam, madam, this incident does not reflect upon you!" he cried impressively, "no one would take upon himself to accuse you of being an instigator or even an accomplice in it, especially as you have proved her guilt by turning out her pockets, showing that you had no previous idea of it.

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Think you with impunity to threaten your jeddak--to question his right to punish traitors and instigators of treason?

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"The Israeli military -- which has up until now kept secret its vague definition of the invented category of 'key instigator' -- now openly reveals that this category was created retroactively in order to justify the shootings of people who posed no real and immediate danger to Israeli soldiers or civilians," said Adalah attorney, Suhad Bishara, who authored the letter to Israeli authorities.

Israeli Army Document Says Snipers Shot 'Key Instigators' After Moving Away from Protest

Governments have never laid down that an instigator must win by a convincing majority to change the status quo.