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

In that case, he was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence, and has been bailed "pending further investigation".

From BBC

The 50-year-old was arrested under the Public Order Act on Monday on suspicion of inciting violence in relation to posts about trans people on X.

From BBC

His comments come after the Father Ted co-creator was arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of inciting violence in posts on the X website.

From BBC

Pahler’s family unsuccessfully sued Slayer and its record company for its lyrics in 2001, claiming they incited her murder, but lost on 1st Amendment grounds.

From Los Angeles Times

Even if she wanted to pursue an exemption, the Lord Advocate would be chary of inciting the home secretary's ire.

From BBC

Related Words

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