Instigate vs Antagonize - What's the difference?
instigate | antagonize |
To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite.
To work against; oppose; especially to incite reaction.
As verbs the difference between instigate and antagonize
is that instigate is to goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite while antagonize is to work against; oppose; especially to incite reaction.instigate
English
(Webster 1913)Verb
(instigat)- He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity. -Bp. Warburton.
Usage notes
Commonly used with reference to evil actions; as, to instigate one to a crime.Synonyms
* (to goad or urge forward): animate, encourage, impel, incite, provoke, spur, stimulate, tempt, urgeAntonyms
* (to goad or urge forward): halt, prevent, stopDerived terms
* instigation * instigatorExternal links
* * ----antagonize
English
Alternative forms
* antagonise (non-Oxford British spelling)Verb
- The other children constantly antagonized Joe to the point of tears.