he instigates Sam against Tom"

[tufguy]

There are three guys John, Sam and Tom. John is a guile person he wants Sam and Tom to fight each other. He keeps telling things to Sam that can make him angry towards Tom.

So what word should we use here "he instigates Sam against Tom"? But you say that "instigate" is not used like this. Could you please tell me what word can be used here?

 

[teechar]

The verb you want is "incite", not "instigate."
Please do not open too many threads at once. Wait for us to respond to your open/active threads before starting new ones. I think you've been told that before.

 

[Rover_KE]

That's right. I regularly close threads when you seem to be 'flooding' the forum.

Other moderators are free to reopen them as and when they choose to reply.

 

[tufguy]

The verb you want is "incite", not "instigate."
Please do not open too many threads at once. Wait for us to respond to your open/active threads before starting new ones. I think you've been told that before.

Okay, so I need to say "John incites Sam against Tom" or "John incited Sam against Tom". Can we also use "radicalise" instead of "incite"?

 

[teechar]

Okay, so I need to say "John incites Sam against Tom" or "John incited Sam against Tom".

Yes.

Can we also use "radicalise" instead of "incite"?

No. For the life of me, I can't see how/why you thought that was a close synonym. Did you actually bother looking it up in the dictionary first?

www.onelook.com

 

[andrewg927]

You should use pit instead. "He pits Sam against Tom." Don't use incite. It is more appropriate in "inciting violence."

 

[tufguy]

You should use pit instead. "He pits Sam against Tom." Don't use incite. It is more appropriate in "inciting violence."

I looked it up in the dictionary. It says to "set someone in a competition or conflict with". Is it a correct word to use in the context I want to use it in?

 

[tufguy]

Yes.


No. For the life of me, I can't see how/why you thought that was a close synonym. Did you actually bother looking it up in the dictionary first?

www.onelook.com

Okay, I wrote it because we say "terrorists radicalise youth against the people".

 

[jutfrank]

I looked it up in the dictionary. It says to "set someone in a competition or conflict with". Is it a correct word to use in the context I want to use it in?

That's not accurate. Which dictionary was that?

 

[andrewg927]

I looked it up in the dictionary. It says to "set someone in a competition or conflict with". Is it a correct word to use in the context I want to use it in?

You mean pit? Yes, it is the correct word to use in your context.

 

[tufguy]

That's not accurate. Which dictionary was that?

I googled it. So what does it actually mean? https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/241477-Instigate-against-humanity check this link as well. So Google and other dictionaries show wrong information as well.

 

[jutfrank]

That's not accurate. Which dictionary was that?

Sorry, I got confused here. I was referring to radicalise.

 

[tufguy]

Sorry, I got confused here. I was referring to radicalise.

I provided you the link of the thread. Now I am confused what is wrong and what is right?

 

[jutfrank]

I think the best verb for your sentence is pit.

 

[tufguy]

I think the best verb for your sentence is pit.

Could you please explain its exact meaning as well?

 

[jutfrank]

Could you please explain its exact meaning as well?

That's what this thread is supposed to be about. You've already given us the meaning in post #1, and we're providing suggestions for which word to use.