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Instigate vs Provocative - What's the difference?

instigate | provocative |

As a verb instigate

is to goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite.

As an adjective provocative is

serving or tending to elicit a strong, often negative sentiment in another person; exasperating.

As a noun provocative is

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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

    * * ----

    provocative

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Serving or tending to elicit a strong, often negative sentiment in another person; exasperating.
  • Serving or tending to excite, stimulate or arouse sexual interest.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • * 1723 , Charles Walker, Memoirs of the Life of Sally Salisbury :
    • She used by way of Provocative , to read the wanton Verses of her (Paramour) in the day time [...].
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