Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb instigate

2 senses of instigate

Sense 1
incite, instigate, set off, stir up -- (provoke or stir up; "incite a riot"; "set off great unrest among the people")
       => provoke, stimulate -- (provide the needed stimulus for)

Sense 2
prompt, inspire, instigate -- (serve as the inciting cause of; "She prompted me to call my relatives")
       => induce, stimulate, cause, have, get, make -- (cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner; "The ads induced me to buy a VCR"; "My children finally got me to buy a computer"; "My wife made me buy a new sofa")