v. To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
v. To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite; -- used chiefly with reference to evil actions.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
To stimulate to an action or course; incite to do something; set or goad on; urge: generally in a bad sense: as, to instigate one to commit a crime.
To stir up; foment; bring about by incitement or persuasion: as, to instigate crime or insurrection; to instigate a quarrel.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
v. serve as the inciting cause of
v. provoke or stir up
Word Usage
"One cafe owner, who asked not to be quoted by name, was called to the local police station in the Gulou, or Drum Tower, area and warned that "overseas reactionary forces" might try to "instigate" some actions on Friday night."