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instigate fear

[ɪnˈstɪɡeɪt fɪr]
verb phrase
instigar medo
1. to deliberately provoke or encourage fear in someone; to incite or stir up fear
The dictator used propaganda to instigate fear among the population.
O ditador usou propaganda para instigar medo entre a população.
2. to be the cause of or bring about fear through actions or words
His threatening behavior was intended to instigate fear in his opponents.
Seu comportamento ameaçador tinha a intenção de instigar medo em seus adversários.
NYC Slang
stir up fear / amp up the fear
Synonyms
provoke fearincite fearstir up feararouse fearkindle fearfoment fearsow fear
Antonyms
allay fearcalmreassurecomfortsoothe

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
instigar medo
Standard usage across Brazil
São Paulo
instigar medo / provocar medo
Both forms commonly used
Rio de Janeiro
instigar medo / botar medo
More colloquial: 'botar medo' is informal
Portugal
instigar medo / provocar medo
Standard European Portuguese usage

Related Idioms & Phrases

strike fear into someone's heart
put the fear of God into someone
scare someone stiff
incite panic
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