incite

verb

in·​cite in-ˈsīt 

incited; inciting

transitive verb

: to move to action : stir up : spur on : urge on

incitant

in-ˈsī-tᵊnt 

noun

incitement

in-ˈsīt-mənt 

noun

inciter noun

Synonyms

• 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

Wole’s infidelity is an important inciting incident, but this moment of personal reckoning was inevitable. —Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025

Rivers, in a Facebook post, accused Antao of inciting the attack by antagonizing her. —Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025

Thirty years after handing Florida State’s dynasty its first ACC defeat, was Virginia going to incite another Scott Stadium party? —David Teel, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025

Our legal system has painstakingly determined the narrow range of speech that is not legally protected, such as speech that is intended to — and in fact does — incite imminent lawless action. —Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 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 above

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