incite
[ in-sahyt ]
/ ɪnˈsaɪt /
verb (used with object), in·cit·ed, in·cit·ing.
to stir, encourage, or urge on; stimulate or prompt to action: to incite a crowd to riot.
Nearby words
incisor, incisor canal, incisors, incisory, incisure, incite, incitement, incivility, incl., inclasp, inclement
Origin of incite
SYNONYMS FOR incite
Related forms
Can be confused
incite insightSynonym 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for incite
British Dictionary definitions for incite
incite
/ (ɪnˈsaɪt) /
verb
(tr) to stir up or provoke to action
Derived Forms
incitation, nounincitement, nouninciter, nounincitingly, adverbWord Origin for incite
C15: from Latin incitāre, from in- ² + citāre to excite
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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