instigate

Verb

provoke or stir up
serve as the inciting cause of
To bring about by urging or encouraging.
To goad or urge (a person) forward, especially to wicked actions.

Examples

to instigate a change
to instigate a riot
to instigate someone to a crime

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from Latin īnstīgātus, perfect passive participle of īnstīgō (“to instigate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Synonyms

incite, inspire, prompt, set off, stir up, animate, encourage, foment, impel, provoke, spur, stimulate, tempt, urge

Antonyms

halt, prevent, stop

Scrabble Score: 10

instigate: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
instigate: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
instigate: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

instigate: valid Words With Friends Word