incite

[in-sahyt]

verb (used with object)

incited, inciting 

1. to stir, encourage, or urge on; stimulate or prompt to action.

   to incite a crowd to riot.

   Synonyms: induce, fire, exhort, arouse, spur, goad, provoke, instigate
   Antonyms: discourage

incite

/ ɪnˈsaɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to stir up or provoke to action

Other Word Forms

• incitation noun
• inciter noun
• incitement noun
• incitingly adverb
• incitable adjective
• incitant adjective
• reincite verb (used with object)
• unincited adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of incite¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin incitāre, from in- in- ² + citāre “to move repeatedly, set in motion, summon” ( cite ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of incite¹

C15: from Latin incitāre, from _in- ² + citāre to excite

Synonym Study

Incite, rouse, provoke, inflame are verbs meaning to goad or inspire an individual or a group to take some action or to express some feeling. Incite and rouse are similar in that, although they can imply in some contexts abrasive or inflammatory arousal of violent or uncontrolled behavior, neither necessarily does so. Incite means simply to induce activity, of whatever kind: incited to greater effort by encouragement; incited to riot. Rouse has an underlying sense of awakening: to rouse the apathetic soldiers to a determination to win; to rouse the inattentive public to an awareness of the danger. Provoke implies a sense of challenge or irritation along with arousal and often suggests a resultant anger or violence: provoked by scathing references to his accomplishments; to provoke a wave of resentment. Inflame, with its root sense to set afire, implies a resultant intensity and passion: to inflame a mob by fiery speeches; He was inflamed to rage by constant frustration.

Example Sentences

On Friday, Wharton told The Times that she received a letter that said the license plate, among other things, “creates a risk of inciting violence.”

From Los Angeles Times

As well as the results of military action, the UN report singles out three Israeli officials for inciting genocide.

From BBC

The commission says it analysed statements made by Israeli leaders and alleges that President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant have "incited the commission of genocide".

From BBC

“Combining that with messaging that’s designed to trigger, incite violence, and the actual organized cells that carry out and facilitate the violence. It is a vast domestic terror movement.”

From Salon

In Aberdeen, seven people were arrested accused of inciting racial hatred in the weeks following a protest in Westhill on 2 August.

From BBC

Related Words

• abet 
• agitate 
• arouse 
• encourage 
• exhort 
• foment 
• inflame 
• inspire 
• instigate 
• motivate 
• prompt 
• provoke 
• rouse 
• set off 
• spur 
• trigger 
• urge 
• whip up