as in proponent
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent
an instigator who always managed to be innocently standing by once the fighting began
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instigator
Noun
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Apple has long been a vocal proponent of the sanctity of its users’ personal data.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025 -
George Fishman, senior legal fellow at the conservative Center of Immigration Studies and former deputy general counsel at Department of Homeland Security during the first Trump administration, has been a strong proponent of the act.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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And in Sunday’s unique atmosphere, embracing the moment in front of a vocal crowd of Yomiuri Giants supporters.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2025
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With Mayor Karen Bass facing a recall threat, her supporters are going after billionaires.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In February 2024, Ayala announced the tour El Principio de un Final, which was not completed due to differences with the promoter.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
13 Mar. 2025
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Money usually bets on the founder, not on the promoter.—
Neil Senturia,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The coming-of-age film tells the story of Ren (Bacon), a teen rebel who moves to a small Southern town that has outlawed dancing for religious reasons.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
8 Mar. 2025
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Besides, the Caribbean strife was thwarting trade and endangering American lives and livelihoods in the region. McKinley, sympathetic toward the rebels but not wanting war with Spain, dispatched a prominent Illinois trial lawyer to Cuba to study the situation and report back.—
Robert W. Merry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In the 1980s and 1990s, tobacco taxes actually declined in real terms, even as congressional advocates repeatedly pushed for increases, according to Brandt.—
Simar Bajaj / Made by History,
TIME,
17 Mar. 2025
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Palmer was an early advocate for girls’ athletics, but her attitudes were still of their time.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The continent’s staunchest ally and partner, the United States, has turned its back and emerged as an agitator, perhaps even an adversary.—
Martin Gutmann,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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At first, the government tried to ignore the protests, then began to use force and accused the protests of being infiltrated by foreign agitators.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In recent weeks, demonstrators around the nation have rallied to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student and activist at Columbia University.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA TODAY,
14 Mar. 2025
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Has the league prepared her to take the next step with the Chicago Sky? Daily Horoscope for March 09, 2025 Daily Horoscope for March 09, 2025 Anti-Trump, Musk protest at Orland Park Tesla countered by MAGA demonstrators Five years ago, COVID gripped the world in fear.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The new firebrand of an acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia promises to bring sweeping changes to how the nation’s capital uses the city’s prosecutorial tools.—
Emily Hallas,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
9 Mar. 2025
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The firebrand Houston lawmaker’s colleagues voted 224-198 to hit him with what amounts to a slap on the wrist over his cane-waving interruption of Trump on Tuesday night.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Instigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instigator. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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