incite

verb

in·​cite in-ˈsīt 

incited; inciting

transitive verb

1

: to move (someone) to action : urge on

incited the crowd to violence

2

: to cause (a usually violent action or feeling) to occur

arrested for inciting a riot

incitant

in-ˈsī-tᵊnt 

noun

incitement

in-ˈsīt-mənt 

noun

inciter noun

Synonyms of incite

• provoke

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

The previous few years have brought lower ice cover, which can threaten the region's $7 billion fishing industry and coastal infrastructure as well as incite harmful algae blooms later in the year. —Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 5 Dec. 2025

Transgender comedian Stacy Cay incited backlash on social media Friday after making a joke about former high school volleyball player Payton McNabb's brain injury. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025

Zuma-Sambudla already faces separate charges of incitement to commit terrorism and public violence, according to prosecutors, for allegedly inciting violence on social media during riots that resulted in more than 300 deaths following her father’s imprisonment for contempt of court charges in 2021. —Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025

Musical Snowman Snow Globe A snow globe can incite unexplainable magic, especially when real snow projections are few in the South. —Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025

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 at sense 1

Rhymes for incite

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

incite

verb

in·​cite in-ˈsīt 

incited; inciting

: to move to action : stir up

inciter noun

Medical Definition

incite

transitive verb

in·​cite in-ˈsīt 

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 

incited; inciting

: to urge on

incite a riot

incitement noun