as in provocative
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction
a deliberately inciting comment questioning someone's manhood started the brawl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in provoking
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
the rock band's failure to show up incited a riot, as the crowd had waited for hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in encouraging
to rouse to strong feeling or action
the demagogue's fiery rant incited the crowd to riot
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 inciting
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
22 June 2026
Although more research is needed, GLP-1 drugs trigger metabolic pathways that could be important in regulating inflammation, which is known to be an inciting factor in many different cancers.
—
Omer Awan,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
What was the setting and the all-important inciting incident?
—
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Of course, the pivotal thing was to create an inciting incident that propels the story without clunky exposition.
—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
23 May 2026
The inciting moment comes when Austin and Ashley witness a violent argument between Josh and Lindsay.
—
Ryan Brennan
april 16,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
While one of the inciting events for establishing the Code of Credits happened to be a crowd of producers onstage at the Oscars, the goal never was to exclude anyone from the profession.
—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
Atwood told Wertheim there were several ways into the story, but an inciting event came in 1981, just after former President Ronald Reagan was elected for the office.
—
Will Croxton,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
That incident, which inspired the inciting moment of season two’s premiere, led Lee to think about how different generations approach love and relationships.
—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
21 Jan. 2026
ABC News,
19 June 2026
The setting, the inciting incident.
—
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Elon Musk has been accused of inciting violence.
—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
And Washington, of course, had nothing to do with instigating or inciting the insurrection.
—
New York Times,
11 June 2026
An extensive perimeter around Madison Square Garden and other restrictions were in place, which came after more than 20 people were arrested for inciting violence near Bryant Park watch party on Monday night.
—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
On Monday, Almonte Vargas turned himself in at East Haven Police Department headquarters and was taken into custody on an active arrest warrant charging him with inciting injury to persons or property, inciting to riot and second-degree riot.
—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2026
Sharon Vuong was the visionary executive who had given Bowers the inciting DVDs and championed the show following Moonves’s departure.
—
Anna Peele,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Firstly, the inciting tragedies are not fresh in terms of time, even if the pain is still all too raw nearly 20 years after the fact.
—
Josh Slater-Williams,
IndieWire,
19 May 2026
Adjective
Does the opening episode need an inciting incident within the first few minutes to draw in audiences?
—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
22 June 2026
Although more research is needed, GLP-1 drugs trigger metabolic pathways that could be important in regulating inflammation, which is known to be an inciting factor in many different cancers.
—
Omer Awan,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
What was the setting and the all-important inciting incident?
—
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Of course, the pivotal thing was to create an inciting incident that propels the story without clunky exposition.
—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
23 May 2026
The inciting moment comes when Austin and Ashley witness a violent argument between Josh and Lindsay.
—
Ryan Brennan
april 16,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
While one of the inciting events for establishing the Code of Credits happened to be a crowd of producers onstage at the Oscars, the goal never was to exclude anyone from the profession.
—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
Atwood told Wertheim there were several ways into the story, but an inciting event came in 1981, just after former President Ronald Reagan was elected for the office.
—
Will Croxton,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
That incident, which inspired the inciting moment of season two’s premiere, led Lee to think about how different generations approach love and relationships.
—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
The 56-year-old had been found guilty last year of inciting social unrest after meeting with villagers displaced by government construction projects, in what was widely seen as one of many legal moves taken by the government of Prime Minister Hun Manet to stifle criticism.
—
ABC News,
19 June 2026
The setting, the inciting incident.
—
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Elon Musk has been accused of inciting violence.
—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
And Washington, of course, had nothing to do with instigating or inciting the insurrection.
—
New York Times,
11 June 2026
An extensive perimeter around Madison Square Garden and other restrictions were in place, which came after more than 20 people were arrested for inciting violence near Bryant Park watch party on Monday night.
—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
On Monday, Almonte Vargas turned himself in at East Haven Police Department headquarters and was taken into custody on an active arrest warrant charging him with inciting injury to persons or property, inciting to riot and second-degree riot.
—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2026
Sharon Vuong was the visionary executive who had given Bowers the inciting DVDs and championed the show following Moonves’s departure.
—
Anna Peele,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Firstly, the inciting tragedies are not fresh in terms of time, even if the pain is still all too raw nearly 20 years after the fact.
—
Josh Slater-Williams,
IndieWire,
19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inciting
Adjective
-
Digital platforms further amplify provocative behavior, potentially normalizing hate.
-
That can desensitize us to actions that in another context would be seen as deeply provocative.
Verb
-
Chris Young’s Beyond Earth column explores the intersection of space technology and policy, providing thought-provoking commentary on the latest advancements and regulatory developments in the sector.
-
Experts don’t fully agree on how helpful a low-histamine diet—which limits histamine-provoking foods—is for systemic mastocytosis.
Verb
-
The new searchable databases work against those calls, encouraging Germans to look more closely at their own families’ association with Nazism and prompting fresh reflections on how ordinary citizens came to normalize extremism.
-
Passionate Mars in your 11th House of Friends sextiles Jupiter in your 1st House of Identity, encouraging brave outreach that feels warm and realistic.
Adjective
-
At a charged political moment, her relatively sober look seemed intended to keep the focus on POTUS.
-
What Happens Next Greene is likely to continue stoking controversy by breaking with her party, as conversations around immigration remain charged and divisive.
Cite this Entry
“Inciting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inciting. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
