# instigate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈɪnstəɡeɪt/ · frequency rank #38,909

## Definitions
1. To bring about by urging or encouraging.
2. To goad or urge (a person) forward, especially to wicked actions.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin īnstīgātus, perfect passive participle of īnstīgō (“to instigate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

## Easily confused with
- **intimate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/instigate-vs-intimate)
- **institute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/instigate-vs-institute)
- **instigator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/instigate-vs-instigator)
- **investigate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/instigate-vs-investigate)
- **initiate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/initiate-vs-instigate)

## Common misspellings (13)
`innstigate`, `insitgate`, `insstigate`, `instgiate`, `instiagte`, `instigaet`, `instigatte`, `instiggate`, `instigtae`, `insttigate`, `intsigate`, `isntigate`, `nistigate`

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