INCITATION Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

incitation

noun

ˌin-ˌsī-ˈtā-shən

Definition of incitation

as in excitement

something that arouses a strong response from another the rabble-rousing speech was seen by many as an incitation to ethnic violence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

subduing

as in incentive

something that arouses action or activity a mild heart attack was all the incitation he needed to adopt an exercise regimen and a healthy diet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of incitation But one chat room over, the server was filled with racist memes, sexist and ableist slurs, antisemitic messages, and incitations of violence against women and people of color. — Ash Parrish, The Verge, 18 Mar. 2024 Between these voices of reason and incitation, between these two seemingly different men, lie 22 years of power and five American presidents. — New York Times, 26 Mar. 2022 Bolsonaro will still have to stand trial for accusations of slander and incitation to rape. — Mauricio Savarese, Fox News, 12 Sep. 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for incitation

Noun

To use satire to confirm does not bring with it dramatic excitement and risks a certain smugness of point of view.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Fast-forward to Arjona’s campaign shoot, and the excitement hadn’t turned down a notch.

— Vogue, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of excitement

Noun

In fact, a natural-resource provider's economic incentive is to minimize demand.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
Check whether individual and departmental incentives support the company’s broader objectives or encourage people to optimize at one another’s expense.

— Dr. Nore Salman, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of incentive

Noun

Usefulness is key for the program, but so is providing stimuli.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2026
Even seemingly small increases—like switching from 10-pound to 12-pound dumbbells, for example—can provide enough of an effective stimulus to build strength without over-stressing your body.

— Jenessa Connor, HEALTH, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of stimulus

Noun

Explaining the impetus for her piece, Salcedo pointed to current conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, and Sudan, where people are being violently displaced en masse.

— Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
Many of today’s proponents are more likely to cite the threat of unprecedented fortunes to democracy than the need for redistribution as the impetus for a wealth tax.

— Daniel Waldenstrom, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of impetus

Noun

The couple shared a hug and a kiss before Lydia offered her husband some encouragement before the first start of his career.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Eidevall eventually approached Ascanio and spent several minutes speaking with her, offering words of encouragement following the disappointing loss.

— Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of encouragement

Noun

While no explosive devices have yet been found following bomb threats, the motivation behind the reports remains unclear.

— Pau Mosquera, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
But Pessiglione suspects that psychological factors, such as motivations and beliefs, also play a key role.

— Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of motivation

Noun

To that end, Radytė emphasizes the importance of comfort, ease of use, and the dual-region stimulation, as well as a growing body of research in women specifically using the Samphire device.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2026
Meanwhile, neurotechnology companies are bringing brain monitoring and stimulation into specialist clinics and at-home devices, hoping to make cognitive fitness as routine as going to the gym.

— Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of stimulation

Browse Nearby Words

incisiveness

incitation

incitations

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Incitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incitation. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of incitation

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gauntlet

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes