INSTIGATE

prompt, inspire, instigate

(verb) serve as the inciting cause of; “She prompted me to call my relatives”

incite, instigate, set off, stir up

(verb) provoke or stir up; “incite a riot”; “set off great unrest among the people”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

instigate (third-person singular simple present instigates, present participle instigating, simple past and past participle instigated)

(transitive) to incite; to bring about by urging or encouraging

(transitive) to goad or urge (a person) forward, especially to wicked actions; to provoke

Synonyms: animate, encourage, impel, incite, provoke, spur, stimulate, tempt, urge

Antonyms: halt, prevent, stop

Source: Wiktionary

In"sti*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Instigated; p. pr. & vb. n. Instigating.] Etym: [L. instigatus, p. p. of instigare to instigate; pref. in- in + a root akin to G. stechen to prick, E. stick. See Stick.]

Definition: To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite; -- used chiefly with reference to evil actions; as to instigate one to a crime. He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity. Bp. Warburton.

Syn.

– To stimulate; urge; spur; provoke; tempt; incite; impel; encourage; animate.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition