# instigator vs investigator

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### instigator
*noun · IPA /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪtə/ · frequency rank #43,718*
A person who intentionally instigates, incites, or starts something, especially one that creates trouble.

### investigator
*noun · IPA /ɪnˈvɛs.tɪˌɡeɪ.tɚ/ · frequency rank #9,197*
One who investigates.

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