instigate

“You always hear, ‘Don’t poke the bear, don’t instigate them,’ but that’s not how you deal with a bully,” Soto-Martínez replied.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026

Abby suspected Reynolds had his own reasons for urging Ned to remove her: to instigate the sale of Fidelity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

"We are against all scenarios that aim to instigate a civil war in Iran, that target ethnic or religious fault lines," Fidan told journalists in Istanbul.

From Barron's ● Mar. 7, 2026

"Racism is a systemic, cultural, societal issues that we all need to be involved in order to instigate change and empower change."

From BBC ● May 19, 2025

“Oh snap,” Freddy said, trying to instigate a throwdown.

From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore

He instigates them, and pedantically reminds her of the rules, but his surprise and irritation become conflagrations of rage as Fonsia wins hand after hand, remaining placid and mildly abashed at her luck.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

The gene proved very active in the habenula, a region of the cichlid’s brain that registers fear and instigates movement.

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 24, 2024

For any adaptive behaviour associated with consciousness, there could be a nonconscious mechanism that instigates the same behaviour.

From Scientific American ● Nov. 7, 2023

Wombat, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge; she instigates Marion’s return to Indy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2023

It seems to be in the nature of biologic information that it not only stores itself up as energy but also instigates a search for more.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

The decade-long episode instigated by Mao in 1966 saw intellectuals brutally targeted as "class enemies" and schools shuttered, setting China back for years in education and development.

From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026

In the most important Phase 3 trials, Zepbound’s highest dose instigated a 20.9% weight loss, while Wegovy’s produced a 14.9% weight loss.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

In some quarters this has instigated an unrealistic disappointment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

Robertson said there was no dispute Patel's actions had seriously departed from professional standards but submitted the relationship was instigated by Patient A and "largely driven by her through the ongoing threats and blackmail".

From BBC ● May 21, 2026

“But Ms. Stanley, Tonesha instigated the whole thing,” Donna protests.

From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi

“It’s the first time that I’m properly going into the genre and embracing it and instigating that work,” Anderson says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

Police said that a suspect detained at the weekend over the attack on the 78-year-old former Conservative minister has now been re-arrested on suspicion of committing, preparing or instigating "terrorism".

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

Across the pond, the people most affected by the unrest, and its instigating events, are not having any of it.

From Slate ● Jun. 15, 2026

Supporters say Balen was echoing public anger over the protester deaths, not instigating it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026

After many nights without sleep, we have given the original letter to our lawyer, who is instigating a libel suit for $500,000.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole