What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
instigate
Example
He was accused of instigating the fight between the two groups. [instigating: verb]
Example
The politician's speech instigated a riot among the crowd. [instigated: past tense]
initiate
Example
She initiated the project by outlining the goals and objectives. [initiated: verb]
Example
The company initiated a training program for its employees. [initiate: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Initiate is more commonly used than instigate in everyday language. Initiate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while instigate is less common and typically used in negative or harmful situations.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between instigate and initiate?
Both instigate and initiate can be used in formal and informal contexts, but initiate is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
