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
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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
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
That’s the inciting incident of the new Paramount+ series Little Disasters, based on the Sarah Vaughan novel of the same name.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 12 Dec. 2025
That’s a solid dramatic question, but one that might’ve been more productive as an inciting incident, as too much of this low-budget drama shuffles around subjects that demand incisive action in 2025, effectively creating a subtle irony that undermines the film’s own point.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2025
There's a naivety and sweetness to them that's ripped away in an instant when the two passionately make love in the barren house, the inciting incident for the demise of their relationship.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
His alleged infidelity became the inciting incident of the series, and Brooks’s sisters rally around her amid the breakup.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
Liam Timothy Walsh, 20, of Somerville, Massachusetts was extradited to Connecticut on Tuesday and charged with inciting injury to persons or property, first-degree criminal mischief, unlawful assembly, second-degree breach of peace and first-degree criminal mischief, according to Capt.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
Lawmakers also refused to agree to allow for the prosecution of lower house Speaker Tomio Okamura, the head of the Freedom party, on charges of inciting hatred.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Charges could include inciting to riot, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The inciting incident for the new story comes after the principal of the high school receives a severed human finger in the mail, sending the parents into an uproar.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
Some do consider Nazi symbolism and other forms of antisemitism to be an act inciting lawlessness or a threat.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 13 Mar. 2026
Powell served a three-game suspension for inciting the incident.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Eight adults were charged with offenses, including inciting to riot and loitering and prowling.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
That’s the inciting incident of the new Paramount+ series Little Disasters, based on the Sarah Vaughan novel of the same name.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 12 Dec. 2025
That’s a solid dramatic question, but one that might’ve been more productive as an inciting incident, as too much of this low-budget drama shuffles around subjects that demand incisive action in 2025, effectively creating a subtle irony that undermines the film’s own point.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2025
There's a naivety and sweetness to them that's ripped away in an instant when the two passionately make love in the barren house, the inciting incident for the demise of their relationship.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
His alleged infidelity became the inciting incident of the series, and Brooks’s sisters rally around her amid the breakup.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
The army also accused him of maintaining contact with Hezbollah militants and inciting against Israeli troops and civilians, without elaborating.
—Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
Liam Timothy Walsh, 20, of Somerville, Massachusetts was extradited to Connecticut on Tuesday and charged with inciting injury to persons or property, first-degree criminal mischief, unlawful assembly, second-degree breach of peace and first-degree criminal mischief, according to Capt.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
Lawmakers also refused to agree to allow for the prosecution of lower house Speaker Tomio Okamura, the head of the Freedom party, on charges of inciting hatred.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Charges could include inciting to riot, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The inciting incident for the new story comes after the principal of the high school receives a severed human finger in the mail, sending the parents into an uproar.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
Some do consider Nazi symbolism and other forms of antisemitism to be an act inciting lawlessness or a threat.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 13 Mar. 2026
Powell served a three-game suspension for inciting the incident.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Eight adults were charged with offenses, including inciting to riot and loitering and prowling.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inciting
Adjective
-
If the storytelling were tighter and more successfully focused on its more sociologically provocative elements, Detective Hole could have settled into the overstuffed genre’s top tier rather than taking a place in the acceptable middle.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
-
But this crop of youthful, intentionally provocative antisemites is novel in some ways.—
Suzanne Schneider,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Those forces may give the president more leverage in his negotiations, but also risk fueling Tehran's resentment and provoking a harsher response, analysts say.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Women and girls are asked to imagine themselves as a river, provoking powerful reflection on the culture of gender in post-Soviet Asia.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Felder suggested that the Beth El rabbis send out a congregation-wide e-mail offering guidance on how to respond to the humanitarian crisis—say, by directing members to relief groups or by encouraging members to contact their representatives in Congress to exert pressure on Israel.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Your 4th House of Protection hosts contentment-seeking Venus, encouraging you to take comfort in your private world.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 2026.
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