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Instigate vs Instill - What's the difference?

instigate | instill |

As verbs the difference between instigate and instill

is that instigate is to goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite while instill is to cause a quality to become part of someone's nature.

instigate

English

(Webster 1913)

Verb

(instigat)
  • To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite.
    • 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, urge

    Antonyms

    * (to goad or urge forward): halt, prevent, stop

    Derived terms

    * instigation * instigator

    External links

    * * ----

    instill

    English

    Alternative forms

    * instil UK

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cause a quality to become part of someone's nature.
    • It is important to instill discipline in a child at an early age.
  • To pour in (medicine, for example) drop by drop.

    • See also

    * infuse