# instigate vs intimate

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

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

### intimate
*adjective · IPA /ˈɪn.tɪ.mət/ · frequency rank #6,487*
Closely acquainted; familiar.

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