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inciting incident is not in our dictionary (yet). Here's what it could mean:

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noun

  • In a narrative, the pivotal event or decision that disrupts the protagonist's status quo, setting the main story and central conflict into motion.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The inciting incident came on Nov. 18 with the release of a video message featuring Kelly and five other Democrats — Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, and Reps.

From Salon • Dec. 1, 2025

You can trace the inciting incident to R1’s sudden popularity and the wider revelation of its Nvidia stockpile.

From Slate • Jan. 31, 2025

Thesaurus

Possible Synonyms

Words in our thesaurus

other words

  • narrative hook
  • point of attack
  • the moment everything changes
  • the story's spark
  • the domino that falls first

Possible Antonyms

Words in our thesaurus

other words

  • return to normalcy
  • the final chapter
  • the happily ever after

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