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
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Recent Examples of inciting
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
The inciting moment, April explains, was Noelle’s fourth-grade school art show.
—Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
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
Three former vigil organizers were charged in 2021 with inciting subversion under the national security law.
—ABC News, 3 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
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
The inciting moment, April explains, was Noelle’s fourth-grade school art show.
—Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Three former vigil organizers were charged in 2021 with inciting subversion under the national security law.
—ABC News, 3 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
-
The most incendiary musical comedy of 2025 will advance to the off-Broadway Orpheum Theatre in October, and its creators are marking the show’s return with, not surprisingly, two provocative events.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
-
Some of my last few films can be considered somehow provocative.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
11 June 2026
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.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
Experts don’t fully agree on how helpful a low-histamine diet—which limits histamine-provoking foods—is for systemic mastocytosis.—
Gagandeep Brar,
Health,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
That is why some of the city’s most promising ideas involve encouraging investment while preserving character.—
Sarah M. Boye,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2026
-
Grinberg now shares her experience online to raise awareness about lung cancer in younger patients and never-smokers, while encouraging others to trust themselves when something doesn't feel right.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
At a charged political moment, her relatively sober look seemed intended to keep the focus on POTUS.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
12 Dec. 2025
-
What Happens Next Greene is likely to continue stoking controversy by breaking with her party, as conversations around immigration remain charged and divisive.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inciting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inciting. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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