instigate conflict

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "instigate conflict" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase means to deliberately cause or provoke a conflict or disagreement. It can be used in various situations, such as describing someone's actions or behaviors that are meant to start a conflict, or discussing the reasons behind a conflict. Example: The political leader's inflammatory speech served to instigate conflict among the citizens. Example: The gossip spread by the mean girls was intended to instigate conflict between the two close friends.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

If Kristof were denied access at all, that is because sense deems it prudent that caution be taken in dealing with a biased "observer" whose preoccupation and lust has long been to instigate conflict by lamenting outrageous claims on a delicate peace that needs nothing but reinforcement.

The New York Times

Who but a group of Ivy League business school professors, behavioral scientists, and PhDs could have figured out that sarcasm could both catalyze creativity and instigate conflict?

Vice

Participants described that patients had very poor communication, tended to instigate conflict with family members, neighbors and with the community, and were more violent against other people when they were in relapse or when their illness was just starting.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

From a social point of view, Dei (2000) wrote that tourism development may instigate conflicts when governments impose it on a community without consulting the local people.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

The researchers suggest several possible reasons for this result, including the fact that "a gun may falsely empower its possessor to overreact and instigate conflicts" or to increase their risk of assault by entering dangerous environments that could have been avoided.

Huffington Post

We are generally raised to follow certain conversational "rules" that include being courteous, not instigating conflict, and ensuring smooth social interactions.

University of California, Berkeley

That's an incredibly foolhardy position to take when you consider that cyber-attacks, according to the NAS report, "are easy to use with high degrees of anonymity and with plausible deniability, making them well suited for covert operations and for instigating conflict between other parties".

The Guardian - Opinion

I guessed she enjoyed instigating conflict from the safe distance the Internet allows.

Huffington Post

"Who else can stand up for liberty in the world?" As for reports that he was warned not to instigate a conflict by sending troops to South Ossetia, Mr. Saakashvili said angrily: "I'm sickened of this cynical and unfounded allegation.

The New York Times

For Britons on all sides, it means reflecting on the critical role Britain and Europe played in instigating the conflict in the first place.

The Guardian - Opinion

Russian security and military forces then instigated a conflict in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, a conflict that has claimed more than 10,000 lives and continues to simmer.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "instigate conflict", consider the level of formality required by your audience. While grammatically sound, it may not be suitable for all contexts. If writing for a general audience, be mindful to use a synonym that is more widely understood.

Common error

While "instigate conflict" is grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or overly formal. If you find yourself using it frequently, explore synonyms like "trigger", "provoke", or "foment" to add variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instigate conflict" functions primarily as a verb phrase where "instigate" acts as a transitive verb taking "conflict" as its direct object. It is often used to describe the act of initiating or provoking conflict, as Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "instigate conflict" is a grammatically sound way to describe the act of initiating or provoking a dispute, disagreement, or fight. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usage in varied contexts. While not exceedingly common, this expression appears most frequently in "News & Media", "Science", and "Academia". When choosing to use "instigate conflict", consider your audience and context and you might consider synonymous to use when appropriate like "provoke conflict", "trigger conflict", or "foment conflict" for varied writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trigger conflict

Focuses on the action that starts the conflict, emphasizing cause and effect.

provoke conflict

Highlights the act of deliberately inciting conflict through actions or words.

foment conflict

Emphasizes the nurturing or encouragement of existing tensions to create conflict.

inflame conflict

Suggests intensifying an already existing conflict, making it more severe.

spark conflict

Implies a sudden and often unexpected initiation of conflict.

initiate hostilities

A more formal term, often used in the context of warfare or serious disputes.

incite discord

Focuses on creating a lack of harmony or agreement, leading to conflict.

stir up trouble

An informal way to describe instigating conflict, often with a sense of mischief.

brew conflict

Suggests a gradual development of conditions that lead to conflict.

fan the flames of conflict

This is an idiomatic expression that suggests intensifying an existing conflict.

FAQs

How can I use "instigate conflict" in a sentence?

You can use "instigate conflict" to describe someone or something that starts or provokes a disagreement or fight. For example, "The politician's speech was seen as an attempt to instigate conflict among different groups".

What are some synonyms for "instigate conflict"?

Some synonyms for "instigate conflict" include "provoke conflict", "trigger conflict", and "foment conflict". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "instigate conflict" or "initiate conflict"?

"Instigate conflict" and "initiate conflict" are similar, but "instigate" implies a deliberate attempt to cause conflict, while "initiate" simply means to begin something. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize intent.

What is the difference between "instigate conflict" and "escalate conflict"?

"Instigate conflict" means to start a conflict, while "escalate conflict" means to increase the intensity or severity of an existing conflict. They describe different stages of a conflict.