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Instigate (Verb)

Serve as the inciting cause of; "She prompted me to call my relatives".

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.

The politician's provocative speech was designed to instigate violence between the rival groups.
A careless whisper instigated the rumors that spread rapidly through the school.
Her innocent question instigated a heated debate about the ethics of artificial intelligence.
The teacher tried to avoid controversy, but her innocuous comment instigated a fierce argument among the students.
The corrupt business practices instigated a major financial scandal that shook the industry.

Provoke or stir up; "incite a riot"; "set off great unrest among the people".

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.

The activists did not intend to instigate a violent uprising, but their passionate speeches stirred the crowd into a frenzy.
A single incendiary comment was enough to instigate a heated debate that lasted long into the night.
Rumors of layoffs began to instigate anxiety among the employees, and morale plummeted in a matter of days.
His radical ideas were meant to instigate a revolution, but the general public was not ready to embrace such drastic change.
The politician's inflammatory speech was criticized for attempting to instigate intolerance and hostility towards minority groups.