incite

verb

in·​cite in-ˈsīt How to pronounce incite (audio)
incited; inciting

transitive verb

: to move to action : stir up : spur on : urge on
incitant noun
incitement noun
inciter noun
Choose the Right Synonym for incite

incite, instigate, abet, foment mean to spur to action.

incite stresses a stirring up and urging on, and may or may not imply initiating.

inciting a riot

instigate definitely implies responsibility for initiating another's action and often connotes underhandedness or evil intention.

instigated a conspiracy

abet implies both assisting and encouraging.

aiding and abetting the enemy

foment implies persistence in goading.

fomenting rebellion

Examples of incite in a Sentence

The news incited widespread fear and paranoia. the rock band's failure to show up incited a riot, as the crowd had waited for hours
Recent Examples on the Web Yet the Chinese government continues to accuse him of inciting political unrest against the state. Lobsang Sangay, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2023 In his own floor speech, Romney said, What happened here today was an insurrection, incited by the president of the United States. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 16 Oct. 2023 Hamas’ surprise attack on Israeli civilians over the weekend incited strong reactions on college campuses across the United States. Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2023 Now the 52-year-old, who goes by the alias Strelkov, sits in Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo jail awaiting trial on a charge of inciting extremism, the latest entry in the list of pro-war patriots and erstwhile loyalists liquidated by a regime that will bear no dissent. Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2023 Police said that one person was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred and three people were arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 5 Nov. 2023 Kinson Cheung, Charles Kwok, Chris Todorovski and Anthony Yung, former student leaders from the University of Hong Kong, were sentenced to two years in prison for inciting people to wound others through their praise of a man who stabbed a police officer before killing himself in 2021. Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2023 On the other side of the chamber, Senator Bill Cassidy, one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict Trump for inciting an insurrection in his second impeachment trial, insisted that Johnson’s ascension was not an indication that the GOP was moving on from the violence of January 6. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 25 Oct. 2023 New leaders might seek nationalist credentials by allowing or even inciting attacks on Israeli settlers or soldiers. Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French inciter, from Latin incitare, from in- + citare to put in motion — more at cite

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incite was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near incite

Cite this Entry

“Incite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incite. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

incite

verb
in·​cite in-ˈsīt How to pronounce incite (audio)
incited; inciting
: to move to action : stir up
inciter noun

Medical Definition

incite

transitive verb
in·​cite in-ˈsīt How to pronounce incite (audio)
incited; inciting
: to bring into being : induce to exist or occur
organisms that readily incited antibody formation

Legal Definition

incite

transitive verb
in·​cite in-ˈsīt How to pronounce incite (audio)
incited; inciting
: to urge on
incite a riot
incitement noun

More from Merriam-Webster on incite

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