# initiate vs instigate

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### initiate
*verb · IPA /ɪˈnɪʃ.i.eɪt/ · frequency rank #10,558*
To begin; to start.

### instigate
*verb · IPA /ˈɪnstəɡeɪt/ · frequency rank #38,909*
To bring about by urging or encouraging.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/initiate-vs-instigate