provoke vs instigate

provoke and instigate both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
provoke	No	No	Yes	No
instigate	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, instigate is a hyponym of provoke; that is, instigate is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than provoke:

Other hyponyms of provoke include entice, lure, tempt, rejuvenate, jog, incite, set off, stir up, agitate, foment, stir up.

provoke (verb)	instigate (verb)
provide the needed stimulus for	provoke or stir up
evoke or provoke to appear or occur	serve as the inciting cause of
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
annoy continually or chronically