Definition of incite
incited
;inciting
transitive verb
: to move to action : stir up : spur on : urge on
inciter
nounExplore M-W
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 of incite from the Web
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Scott has loyally supported the school choice movement, but had avoided taking a position on HB 7069, as the issue incited a groundswell of criticism and opposition from parents and teacher groups.
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Ms. Griffin took the extreme escalatory rhetoric from various news outlets and violence-inciting liberal groups too far.
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But the jury found that Metzger, his son and the White Aryan Resistance had incited the murder of Seraw.
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Harper tossed his bat aside, charged the mound, flung his helmet wildly and incited a melee inside AT&T Park.
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The attacks were incited by rumors on the messaging service WhatsApp warning of strangers who were abducting children.
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The Ilısu Dam has incited controversy since it was proposed in 1954—controversy that only deepened when construction began in 2006.
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In a culture that attempts to incite competition among women—
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But analysts and policymakers fear an intervention in Mali could incite a wider war.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'incite'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of incite
Middle French inciter, from Latin incitare, from in- + citare to put in motion — more at cite
First Known Use: 15th century
Synonym Discussion of incite
INCITE Defined for English Language Learners
incite
playDefinition of incite for English Language Learners
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: to cause (someone) to act in an angry, harmful, or violent way
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: to cause (an angry, harmful, or violent action or feeling)
INCITE Defined for Kids
incite
playDefinition of incite for Students
incited
;inciting
: to stir up usually harmful or violent action or feeling The news incited panic.
Medical Dictionary
incite
playMedical Definition of incite
incited
;inciting
: to bring into being : induce to exist or occur organisms that readily incited antibody formation
Law Dictionary
incite
playLegal Definition of incite
incited
inciting
: to urge on incite a riot
incitement
nounLearn More about incite
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for incite Spanish Central: Translation of incite Nglish: Translation of incite for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of incite for Arabic speakers
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